Vice-President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that shortly after the current administration took office, false allegations were circulated claiming he was plotting to assassinate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to take over power.
Shettima made the revelation on Tuesday at the public presentation of *My Life of Duty and Allegiance*, the autobiography of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
According to him, the claims emerged about three months after their inauguration, with unnamed individuals reportedly approaching the president with the allegation.
He said President Tinubu personally dismissed the claims after assessing the situation.
Shettima quoted the president as saying: “Sit down! Your people came to me and said stop wearing those Shettima’s clothes… their story did not add up. He said when you gave me those clothes, I was an aspirant. I would not have been the candidate, neither were you going to be Vice presidential candidate.”
He added that the allegations continued even after the election, with claims that he intended to use the traditional attire linked to him for sinister purposes. He noted that Tinubu later wore the outfit despite the rumours.
Shettima said: “Some people told him after election that I was planning to use the clothes to kill him and take over. However, Tinubu wore the clothes after that because he is not fetish.”
The vice-president used the moment to call for national unity and urged Nigerians to avoid narratives that promote distrust among leaders and citizens.
