Shettima: Jonathan Tried Removing Me as Borno Governor, But Lacked Constitutional Power

1 day ago 3

VP Shettima recounts plot to oust him during Jonathan’s administration
Says ex-AGF Adoke blocked illegal move at Federal Executive Council
Praises Tambuwal and Adoke for defending constitutional democracy

Vice President Kashim Shettima has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan once considered removing him as Borno State governor but was stopped on constitutional grounds.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the public presentation of OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigeria Oil Block, authored by former Attorney General Mohammed Adoke, Shettima said he endured heavy political persecution under Jonathan’s government.

“In the last four years of Jonathan’s administration, I was the most demonised person; I was public enemy number one,” Shettima stated.

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He revealed that during a high-level meeting involving Jonathan, the Vice President, and National Assembly leaders, Jonathan reportedly muted the idea of sacking the Borno governor. Aminu Tambuwal, then Speaker of the House, warned that such a move was unconstitutional.

Shettima said Adoke also stood firm in defence of the law, telling Jonathan: “Mr President, you do not have the powers to remove a sitting governor, not even a councillor.” Another senior lawyer in the cabinet, Kabiru Turaki, reportedly backed Adoke’s position, effectively ending the plot.

Shettima praised Adoke and Tambuwal for their “courage to uphold constitutional democracy” and commended Adoke for forgiving his detractors.

The Vice President’s revelation comes as Adoke’s book revisits the controversial Malabu OPL 245 oil block deal, a $1.3bn agreement involving Shell and Eni to acquire a Nigerian deep-water licence believed to hold nine billion barrels of crude oil.

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