2023: kashim Shettima Erred
By Collins Mbakwe
While speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association’s annual conference which took place a few days ago at the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, Sen. Kashim Shettima, the APC running mate to the presidential flag bearer said that if APC wins the 2023 presidential election, he will be in charge of security, while Tinubu will handle the economy.
According to him, “I’ve been in the theatre of conflicts for 18 years. I will lead the troops, my principal is an economy wizard who has transformed Lagos into the third largest economy in Africa. He will concentrate on the economy. By God’s grace, I will handle the security, and not only the security, but I will also lead the troops to battle across the length and breadth of this country.”
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Sen. Shettima erred in making such a statement, as that has never been one of the duties of a Vice President. His statement suggests that the presidential candidate of the party, Ahmed Bola Tinubu lacks the wherewithal to solve the myriads of security challenges bedeviling the nation. A Nigerian president and not the vice is the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federation.
Many reactions have trailed the above Sen. Shettima’s statement. Reacting to the statement, the Delta State Governor and vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ifeanyi Okowa, said that it is not constitutional for the Vice President to take over the responsibilities of the President.
In the report which was made by The Cable, he said – “I don’t want to talk about their policies. If the Vice President will take charge of security, is he (the President) not going to preside over the security council at the federal level? I don’t understand that. Because there is a Commander-in-Chief. Is there a reversal in position? He can offer advice, but I’ll find it absurd that he speaks about: ‘I’ll take charge of it.’ Possibly they have agreed that he’s to be the Commander-in-Chief.”
While tackling Sen. Shettima for the statement, a human rights activist, Gbenga David said that it is obvious Sen. Shettima does not understand the roles of the Vice President of a country.
