Vice-President Kashim Shettima has praised President Bola Tinubu as a modest leader focused on improving Nigeria’s fortunes, describing him as a man who shuns extravagance.
Speaking at a book launch in Abuja on Thursday, August 15, Shettima revealed his surprise upon visiting Tinubu’s residence in Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos, expecting a lavish mansion but finding a modest home instead. He contrasted Tinubu’s simplicity with the luxurious expectations often associated with political leaders, stating that his own house in Maiduguri is more opulent than Tinubu’s residence.
Shettima called on Nigerians to support President Tinubu, describing him as a leader who is making tough but necessary decisions for the country’s future.
He said;
“In President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have a leader that we can invest our trust in. I’m not playing politics, I’m speaking from the heart. I have seen the soul of Bola Tinubu, and he has a good soul.
“He means well for the nation. He wants to live in a place of glory. He is not in power to engage in primitive capital accumulation. He is in power to leave landmarks in the sands of time. He is the most demonised politician in Nigeria. The first time I went to his house at Bourdillon, I was looking forward to seeing a mansion comparable to Buckingham Palace, with gardens, and swimming pools, but there was nothing special about that house. My house in Maiduguri is better than the house in Bourdillon.
“And at the formative stage of the APC, we held a meeting in his house. They served us a variety of meals but he opted to take garri with groundnut for lunch. Since I have known him, he has been using only one wristwatch, and in fact, I dress better than him. He doesn’t even care. He has overcome all those odds to dress well. So we need to rally around this poor man. He has taken some bold steps. The economy that we met was in a huge mess.
“But it wasn’t for us, we were part of the Buhari administration, we cannot deny that. We belong to the political family. It’s not about apportioning blame, but it’s about finding solutions to our nation’s needs.“
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