Shettima reveals: People told Tinubu I charmed clothes I gave him

Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that some individuals warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against wearing traditional outfits he gave him during the 2023 campaign, claiming the garments were charmed and could endanger his life.

Shettima made the revelation on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at the public presentation of the autobiography of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, titled “My Life of Duty and Allegiance.”

According to the vice president, the warning came barely three months after Tinubu assumed office, when a group from Borno State allegedly advised the president to stop wearing the attire, claiming it was spiritually manipulated to harm him.

Shettima said Tinubu dismissed the allegation, noting that it lacked logic since the outfits were given to him before both men secured the APC ticket.

He added that the president went further to publicly reject the claim by wearing the outfits continuously for a week.

“For one week, to prove that he is not fetish, he wore those dresses,” Shettima said, describing the episode as an example of growing suspicion within Nigeria’s political space.

He contrasted the development with what he described as a past culture of trust, recalling how the Sultan of Sokoto’s family regularly sent food to Gowon during his time in office without fear or suspicion.

Shettima lamented that such trust has eroded over time, warning that increasing suspicion could undermine national unity.

He urged Nigerians to embrace mutual trust and resist divisive tendencies, stressing that the country’s diversity should not be a source of conflict.

In his tribute, the vice president praised Gowon’s legacy, highlighting his role in post-war reconciliation and the establishment of institutions such as the National Youth Service Corps and ECOWAS.

The event was attended by top dignitaries, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, senior government officials, traditional rulers, and members of the diplomatic and military communities.