The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has been firing on all cylinders to defend his boss – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over allegations and counter allegations his actions against the north. Recently, he debunked the claim that Tinubu is working against the interest of the North. He said there was no truth in the claim from some quarters that President Bola Tinubu was working against the interest of the North to cripple the region. According to Shettima, the narrative was being pushed by some disgruntled elements and it should be disregarded. The Vice President spoke in Kano, when he received a Federal Government’s delegation, which visited to condole with him on the death of his mother-in-law. The delegation was led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. He said: “At an appropriate time, we will lay out facts that the President is not against the North as being championed by some disgruntled elements, who always want to cause disaffection between government and the citizens.”

Some people have meetings and what they are saying is that the president has been pandering to the south, especially Lagos, as most of those who served with him when he was the governor of Lagos are now serving or heading key positions in his administration. However, watchers of government believe that the statements of the Vice President, rather than douse the situation may give credence to some of the beliefs of the people of the North through the allged marginalisation and policies of Mr. President. This may not be farfetched as early in the first week of June, two documents titled “Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measure etc) Order 2024” and “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP)”, said to contain proposals on economic policy, including Customs tariffs and fuel subsidy surfaced on both the digital and traditional media. However, the presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in a statement in Abuja, clarified that none of the documents has been approved or finalised; reminding all that policymaking is an iterative process involving multiple drafts and discussions.

The Presidency, however, urged the public, especially the media, to disregard the two documents and cease further discussions on them. Also, early in the year, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), announced that it would move some of its operations to Lagos, not a few northern elites opposed the move. In the presidency too, there have been meetings of the inner caucus, including the Vice President, saying that it was not true and they would ensure that there is a more balanced approach to governance and other issues. However, the president believes that what he is doing is not marginalisation and that he is putting the right people in the right places for the sake of good governance. That has always been his position or the position of his government. However, that does not add up to some of Northerners, who have been calling on former President Muhammadu Buhari as well as former heads of state, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar in Minna, Niger State. Last week, former governor Alli Modu Sherrif of Borno State, was in Daura, Katsina State, on a visit to former President Buhari. Before him, former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar did the same.

In addition, he visited the Emirs of Daura and Katsina, as well as the family of the late former Governor Isa Kaita. He made a stopover in Minna, Niger State, where he visited former heads of state Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Sources said this was just a prelude to what would happen in 2027. It is just another confirmation of the growing discontent among the Northern elite about the policies and programmes of the president. Those who should know confided in Sunday Telegraph that the North is building a coalition against Tinubu. “It is all about 2027. That is what is going on,” said a source, who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak.