The Office of the Vice President has dismissed recent media reports suggesting a connection between Vice President Kashim Shettima’s remarks at a book launch and the political crisis in Rivers State, describing the claims as “gross misrepresentation” and “reckless distortion.”
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, clarified that Vice President Shettima’s comments during the public presentation of “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block” by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), were historical reflections focused on Nigeria’s constitutional evolution.
The Vice President had recalled a moment during the Jonathan administration when his removal was allegedly contemplated as Governor of Borno State amid the North East insurgency. Some media outlets reportedly interpreted his remarks as veiled criticism of the recent suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency in the state by President Bola Tinubu.
However, Nkwocha categorically stated that Shettima’s references were “purely illustrative,” aimed at acknowledging Adoke’s professional conduct and emphasizing the maturing nature of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office,” the statement read. “The constitutional action taken was suspension, not outright removal… It was part of the measures implemented… in response to the grave circumstances surrounding the polity in Rivers State.”
The statement further highlighted that President Tinubu’s actions were grounded in constitutional provisions—specifically Sections 305(1)(c), 305(2), and 305(3)—to address the “steep descent into chaos” in Rivers, including politically motivated violence, attacks on federal institutions, and threats to governance.
“The President’s proclamation properly invoked Section 305(2), which was subsequently ratified by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the National Assembly,” Nkwocha noted, underlining that the intervention enjoyed broad legislative support.
Accusing some media platforms of willful misinterpretation or ignorance, the statement urged political actors and journalists to desist from manipulating statements to fuel imagined divisions within the administration.
“Vice President Shettima stands shoulder to shoulder with President Tinubu in implementing these difficult but indispensable actions to safeguard our democracy,” Nkwocha affirmed.
The Presidency reiterated its commitment to constitutional governance, calling on the media to uphold integrity and contribute to national cohesion.