Vice President Kashim Shettima has defended President Bola Tinubu’s health status, dismissing concerns that arose after an incident during the Democracy Day celebration last month. The incident, where President Tinubu missed his steps, sparked conversations about his ability to lead the country. However, at a town hall meeting organized by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja on Friday, Shettima addressed these concerns head-on.
“We are not asking you not to question the eligibility of your president’s condition. But there is this mischievous vexation about the president’s health status,” Shettima remarked. He urged Nigerians to rally around and support Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing that leadership is more about intellectual capability than physical strength. “We are not preparing for the Olympics, but an institution that builds on the superiority of ideas. The hallmark of true leadership is not the ability to lift a bag of cement, but the capacity to come up with robust ideas to solve a nation’s problems. So, this is a man that we need to all rally around, we need to support.”
In light of Nigeria’s economic challenges, with inflation reaching 33.69 percent in May 2024, Shettima acknowledged the tough economic conditions but argued that these issues are not unique to Nigeria. He expressed confidence in the Tinubu administration’s ability to navigate and improve the economic situation.
“Yes, our economy is going through turbulence but is it confined to Nigeria alone? Let’s take a broadband picture. Is any economy immune from the challenges of the times? So, I urge you to be fair to this poor man,” Shettima stated. He praised President Tinubu’s leadership, highlighting his intentions and capacity to drive positive change and progress in the country. “We have never had it so good in terms of leadership. The President means well for the nation and most importantly, is imbued with the skill set to drive change and progress in this country,” Shettima said. “I can tell you with all sense of confidence that the President we have now is a man of ideas who is robustly imbued with the capacity. Leadership is about competence.”
As the administration continues to tackle the nation’s economic and social issues, Shettima’s remarks underscore the government’s call for unity and support from Nigerians, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to steer the country towards prosperity.