Elder statesman and respected political figure, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to break his silence and publicly address the persistent rumours surrounding the possible replacement of Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on the political affairs programme Politics Today, which aired on Channels Television on Wednesday, Baba-Ahmed expressed growing concern about the President’s silence over an issue that continues to dominate political discourse and trigger speculation across the country.
He argued that the presidency’s refusal to provide a clear response is creating an atmosphere of political instability and mistrust, particularly in the North, where Shettima maintains a strong support base.
“I would be very curious to find out what it is that makes all these stories about dropping him [Shettima]. I think, somewhere along the line, to be honest, the President should have done something a long time ago,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
Baba-Ahmed noted that it wouldn’t take much effort to quash the circulating rumours. According to him, a simple, direct declaration from President Tinubu affirming his support for Vice President Shettima would have sufficed and helped put an end to what he called “destructive and unnecessary speculation.”
He pointed out that there have been growing whispers suggesting Shettima could be dropped for a different running mate, potentially a Christian or someone from another geo-political zone, in a bid to appeal to a broader voter base in 2027.
“If all these stories about dropping the Vice President… have absolutely no iota of truth, it would have taken just one thing: the President directly and personally saying, ‘Stop this nonsense. I have confidence in my Vice President, I work well with him, I am happy with him, and I want this nonsense about me dropping him, now or in the future, to stop,’” he said emphatically.
Although presidential aide Bayo Onanuga had previously dismissed the rumours in June, describing them as a “non-issue,” Baba-Ahmed believes that the statement from a spokesperson lacks the weight and finality that only the President himself can bring to the matter.
“The President’s silence is worrying,” Baba-Ahmed insisted. “It gives room for people to speculate, misinform, and create division. This is not healthy for a government that is trying to maintain stability and build public confidence.”
He further stressed that this type of political ambiguity could harm Tinubu’s administration if left unaddressed. By not speaking directly, Baba-Ahmed warned, the President risks allowing the rumour mill to shape public perception and disrupt cohesion within his own support base.
He concluded with a strong recommendation, saying, “If what I have said is exactly what the president thinks, he should have said it. If he doesn’t say it the way I have, he should have found a way — but it should come from him. It should be direct and it must be emphatic.”[/p>