Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to be fair to President Bola Tinubu, highlighting that no economy globally is without challenges.
Speaking 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 both economic concerns and health-related rumors surrounding President Tinubu.
Shettima dismissed concerns about Tinubu’s health, asserting that the President is a man full of ideas.
This statement came in response to discussions that arose following an incident during the Democracy Day celebration last month, where President Tinubu missed his steps.
This incident had sparked conversations about his ability to lead the country.
“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 emphasized the importance of supporting Tinubu’s administration, noting, “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.”
Shettima acknowledged the current economic turbulence but pointed out that it is not unique to Nigeria. “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.”
Highlighting Tinubu’s leadership qualities, Shettima said, “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.”
He further praised Tinubu’s competence, adding, “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.”