Vice-President Kashim Shettima has praised former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing him as a force no one in Nigerian politics can afford to overlook, regardless of personal opinions about his character.
Speaking at a public event on Thursday, July 10, Shettima referred to El-Rufai as “the enfant terrible of the Nigerian Governors’ Club,” adding, “Hate him, love him, but you can’t ignore him.”
The vice president also showered encomiums on Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), calling him “the fire-spitting leader of the Kwankwassiyya Movement.”
Shettima used the opportunity to call for unity among political actors, noting that despite party differences, all politicians share a common responsibility to build Nigeria.
“We may belong to different parties, but we are one people, one political class, with one mission to drive national development,” he said.
His remarks come at a time of increasing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, with reports of alignments and realignments within the country’s political elite.
There have been persistent rumours of a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima, including speculation that Tinubu may replace Shettima on the 2027 ticket with Kwankwaso, who has reportedly held talks with leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, APC chieftains have repeatedly dismissed such claims, insisting there is no fracture in the relationship between the president and his deputy.
Shettima’s glowing remarks about both El-Rufai and Kwankwaso are being interpreted by observers as a strategic show of camaraderie amid a fluid political climate.
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