2023: Shettima explains Abacha reference

Kashim Shettima, the running mate to Bola Tinubu, has clarified his reference to Nigeria’s former Head of State, Sani Abacha.

Tinubu and Shettima are on a joint ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 elections.

The Borno Central Senator is under fire for suggesting that Nigeria needs the type of Abacha’s leadership.

In a statement on Friday, Shettima noted that his views were distorted “to settle partisan scores”.

The former Borno State governor said the video of his speech in Lagos is in the public for those curious.

“I never attributed hospitality to Abacha in my speech”, the APC vice presidential candidate asserted.

“I did a rundown of our past presidents and played up “the taciturnity and a dose of ruthlessness of a Sani Abacha”.

Shettima said his comment meant strongmen are needed “to deal with the nonstate actors who’ve turned Nigeria into a vast killing-field”.

“I was quick to tease the audience, appreciating the humour hovering around the hall, with the familiar jibe that nice men don’t make good leaders.

“By nice men I meant those who get easily manipulated and pressured to divert state resources to appeal to private expectations”, he added.