Tinubu attire rumour dismissed by President after claims traditional outfits from Shettima were spiritually dangerous
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday revealed that some individuals allegedly warned President Bola Tinubu against wearing traditional outfits gifted to him by the Vice President, claiming the garments had been used to spiritually manipulate him.
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Shettima made the disclosure during the public presentation of former Head of State Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, where he represented the President.
According to Shettima, the warning surfaced barely three months after the administration assumed office.
“Sit down. Your people came to me and said I should stop wearing those dresses you gave me. They said I must have been charmed, and that I am going to die and he will become the president,” Shettima recalled Tinubu telling him.
The Vice President said Tinubu immediately dismissed the allegation and deliberately continued wearing the traditional Borno outfits for an entire week to publicly disprove the claims.
The Tinubu attire rumour, Shettima explained, reflected what he described as growing suspicion and unhealthy narratives within Nigeria’s political environment.
He contrasted the incident with what he described as the era of trust and goodwill exemplified by Gowon’s leadership years.
Shettima recalled that Gowon regularly received gallons of fura from the Sultan of Sokoto without suspicion, arguing that trust once played a central role in governance and national leadership.
The Vice President also reflected on his role during the 2023 election campaign in sourcing traditional Borno attire for Tinubu as part of efforts to help the then presidential candidate connect more effectively with northern audiences.
According to him, the outfits were warmly received throughout the campaign period before the bizarre allegations later emerged after Tinubu became President.
“She said it didn’t add up because the clothes were given when he was a candidate, not when he became President,” Shettima explained while recounting Tinubu’s reaction.
“For one week, to prove to them that he is not fetish, he wore those dresses. These are some of the gimmicks that are taking place in power circles in Nigeria nowadays.”
During his speech, Shettima praised Gowon’s contributions to national unity, reconciliation and institution-building in Nigeria.
He specifically highlighted Gowon’s role in establishing the National Youth Service Corps and advancing regional integration through the Economic Community of West African States.
The Vice President urged Nigerians to resist divisive tendencies capable of undermining national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
Quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Shettima concluded his remarks by calling for unity across ethnic and political lines.
“Let us learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools,” he said.
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The event attracted several prominent figures, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Sultan of Sokoto and senior retired military officers.
