Some People Told Tinubu I Charmed Him With Clothes I Gave Him — Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that some individuals from Borno State once advised President Bola Tinubu to stop wearing traditional outfits he received from him during the 2023 election campaign, claiming the garments were used to “charm” the President and could lead to his death.

Shettima said President Tinubu dismissed the allegation outright and even wore the outfits continuously for a week to prove there was nothing mystical or harmful about them.

The Vice President made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday while representing Tinubu at the public presentation of My Life of Duty and Allegiance, the autobiography of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.

Shettima used the incident to highlight what he described as the growing culture of suspicion in Nigerian politics and society, contrasting it with what he called the trust that defined earlier national leadership eras.

He recalled a story shared at the event about the family of the Sultan of Sokoto sending traditional refreshments to former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, noting that such gestures reflected a level of trust that appears to be fading in modern political relations.

According to him, “Suspicion smears our relationships, and it ought not to be. We are essentially one people tied to a common destiny.”

Shettima explained that during the 2023 presidential campaign, he had sourced traditional Borno attire and a cap for Tinubu, which the President wore across several northern campaign visits and which became part of his campaign appearance.

However, after the election, controversy emerged when some visitors allegedly warned Tinubu against continuing to wear the outfits, claiming they carried spiritual implications.

Shettima said Tinubu later called him after returning from an official trip to China and recounted the claims made by the individuals.

The Vice President said the President immediately rejected the allegations, insisting there was no basis for such beliefs, and continued wearing the attire publicly for several days to dismiss the rumour.

Shettima described the episode as part of what he called “political gimmicks” and rising misinformation within power circles in Nigeria.

He also used the occasion to commend Gowon’s leadership legacy, particularly his role in national reconciliation, the establishment of the NYSC, and the formation of ECOWAS, describing him as a statesman whose example remains relevant to Nigeria’s unity.