Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former presidential adviser, has expressed worry about President Bola Tinubu’s failure to directly deny the escalating rumors that he plans to succeed Vice President Kashim Shettima.

There may be preparations to remove Shettima from the ticket before the next general election, according to the rumors that originally arose months ago.

Through aides, including presidential spokeswoman Bayo Onanuga, who called the claim a non-issue in June, the administration has rejected it.

Baba-Ahmed, however, feels that the president himself ought to have spoken more forcefully to the issue.

Baba-Ahmed, who resigned from the Tinubu administration almost three months ago, stated during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday that the President’s ongoing silence is concerning as well as unexpected.

“I would be very curious to find out what it is that makes all these stories about dropping him (Shettima). I think, somewhere along the line, to be honest, the President should have done something a long time ago,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“If all these stories about dropping the Vice President for somebody else, another Northern Vice President, maybe a Christian, maybe from somewhere else — have absolutely no iota of truth, it would have taken just one thing: the President directly and personally saying, ‘Stop this nonsense. I have confidence in my Vice President, I work well with him, I am happy with him, and I want this nonsense about me dropping him, now or in the future, to stop.’

‘I will take a decision on who my running mate is in 2027 when we get there. In the meantime, we have work to do.’ But he didn’t say that. His people didn’t say that.”

He added that the lack of a personal response from the President leaves room for unnecessary speculation and division within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It’s worrying, let me just say it is worrying. If what I have said is exactly what the president thinks, he should have said it. If he doesn’t say it the way I have, he should have found a way, but it should come from him – it should be direct and it must be emphatic,” he added.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.