By Muawiya Yusuf Muye
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s rise to Nigeria’s number two seat of power was no accident. His journey reflects vision, performance, strategy, and bridge-building—qualities that set him apart. The partnership between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, many observers note, was not a historical coincidence but a deliberate and calculated political alliance.
Before assuming his current role, Shettima served as Governor of Borno State during one of the most turbulent periods in its history—the height of the Boko Haram insurgency. Leading Borno through those years demanded courage, resilience, and clarity of purpose. Remarkably, he not only governed but excelled.
“As a student at the University of Maiduguri during his tenure, I vividly recall observing his leadership style from close quarters,” Muye writes. “Even as Borno bore the brunt of insecurity, Shettima provided a rare kind of governance that prioritized people and infrastructure. His investments in education transformed the state’s landscape, and his foresight in establishing the Civilian JTF gave critical support to the Nigerian military in decimating Boko Haram.”
For Nigerians who remember the pre-2015 years when suicide bombings rocked cities including Abuja, Shettima’s ability to stabilize Borno amidst chaos stands as one of the most courageous acts of governance in modern history.
Leadership, often tested by loyalty, is an area in which Shettima excels. He inspires and commands loyalty without being overbearing. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno is cited as a prime example—a protégé whose enduring loyalty reflects Shettima’s mentorship, rooted in trust, humility, and refinement.
Shettima himself is equally a product and master of loyalty. Since becoming Vice President in 2023, his conduct has redefined the role of a deputy, showing how a second-in-command can strengthen rather than overshadow the principal. His relationship with President Tinubu has been a model of “support, diligence, and unwavering dedication.”
Perhaps most striking is his consistency toward former President Muhammadu Buhari. “No politician today has honored Buhari with as much dignity as Shettima has,” Muye observes, noting that Shettima’s loyalty to Buhari before, during, and after his presidency demonstrates that “loyalty is not performative but lived.”
Since taking office, Shettima has worked to ensure that every step of the Renewed Hope Agenda is grounded in loyalty, discipline, and integrity. His humility and measured approach, many believe, have given Nigerians renewed confidence in the office of the Vice President.
“As he marks his 59th birthday, Vice President Shettima stands as a refined statesman whose loyalty is unshaken, whose leadership is inspiring, and whose future in Nigeria’s political space remains ever bright.”
