The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna

I may not be amongst the closest people around him today, but I have known Vice President Kashim Shettima for more than two decades now. And, of course, throughout his time as cabinet commissioner, his eight years as governor, and his tenure as senator, I maintained a consistently cordial working and personal relationship with him. It may not be as deep as one may imagine, but I have come to know and understand his leadership style – most especially, as a leader defined by his disciplined composure and long-term vision, approaching every political challenge with measured intent.

Most times his tolerant mien is often misconstrued for weakness or absence of tact as a politician. But undermining him as a politician is to the detriment of whoever dares to do so. 

During the lead-up to the 2023 vice presidential race, critics, even in his home state, largely dismissed his chances, doubting he could make a significant impact. Even after the 2023 elections which turned out victorious for the ruling APC, many still doubted his capacity to wield certain influences that could impact his state, his subregion and the north. In fact, some have said that he would hardly survive the presidency because his principal may not tolerate his (wrongly perceived) “inordinate ambition for power and influence”.

But time has passed and none of the negative presumptions have come to pass – at least he is still the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a very loyal and dependable one for that matter, who is most certainly going to remain on the ballot come 2027. 

Need to say that in the last three years, I’ve heard all kinds of disheartening comments about the office and person of VP Shettima. Many said he has failed, because “he could not commandeer plenty of national cakes to Borno, the northeast and the Arewa in general.” 

It is unfortunate that even the highly educated often lack an understanding of how the game is played in the corridors of power. I would be bold to say that no one understands this dynamic better than Senator Shettima; he knows well the price of loyalty and commitment to duty – yet, many still wanted him to wear the toga of a Commander-in-Chief.

A mutual friend who has a trademark for pointing out everything negative about the vice presidency of Senator Shettima, had once muted that “he should have resigned in protest” because the Presidency has not deployed tangible projects or key appointments to the northeast and Borno state in particular”.  I was like, “can you imagine!” 

Blinded by mischief and a shallow understanding of how government functions – and how politics lubricates the wheels of policy – these critics fail to see that much of what Borno receives from Abuja is a direct result of their son, Senator Kashim Shettima, serving as Vice President.  

For example, when the devastating Maiduguri flood of September 10th 2024 occurred, the state received unprecedented support and donations from governments, non-organisations and spirited individuals, not entirely because they so much love Borno, but because Borno is the home state of a serving Vice President. Never had it been recorded that a state received a single donation of 100 trucks of assorted food grains from the Federal government – but under the  current dispensation, it happened. 

Two federal tertiary institutions were established in Borno state in the three years of the Tinubu-Shettima administration. Many more tangible and intangible dividends of democracy have quietly come to Borno, yet chronic haters never see any good in the office of the VP. 

Interestingly, Vice President Kashim Shettima was aware of all these but had never for once paid attention to it. Instead he remained focussed with eyes on the ball as he diligently discharged his duties for the country even as he kept a constant tab on the goings on at the home front.

Last week, the vice president pulled a very strategic move that did not only seal the leaps of the career critics but turned most of them from toxic haters to instant hailers – and on a larger scale, that strategic move  further gladdened the hearts of millions of Borno residents both at home and abroad. 

The dual flag-off of the Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala and Bama–Banki federal highways on Saturday, July 4th, marks a historic milestone for the people of Borno, the Lake Chad region, and the Trans-Saharan business community. 

Long considered a wild dream – and by many, a mirage – the project finally commenced last Saturday, turning aspiration into reality. One needs no soothsayer to confirm that Vice President Kashim Shettima is clearly the catalyst for these high-impact projects. Without his intervention, these two economically vital roads would have likely remained in a state of eternal disrepair.

Interestingly this new narrative is now the topic of most majalissas (male sitout joints) in Maiduguri. And guess what?  The VP is now the toast of every one in Maiduguri. It is gladdening to hear even the most vile of all critics’ saying “If these roads are the only major project that Kashim Shettima brings for us, we would forgive and relief him the stress of doing more, because now he has proven us wrong and he has done what other (former) vice presidents in this country had failed to do for their people.”

As George Orwell famously said; “in a time of universal deceit, (accepting and) telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Sometimes, the most revolutionary act is simply admitting that your original angle, your initial hypothesis, or your personal creed was wrong in the face of the evidence. 

I believe this has been the situation with many doubting Thomases in Borno state today. Yes! The Vice president is today being hailed not only for making sure Borno is placed on the front burner of states that deserve such state of the earth critical infrastructure, but for ensuring that the project is not a political gimmick especially by tightening the credibility end of the project with the involvement of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote as the sponsor while a top-notch construction company like Dantata and Sawoe as the contractors. The two projects which will in their first phase cost about N136 billion is one of the significant major projects that has ever come to Borno state since the return of democracy and all thanks to the Tinubu-Shettima administration. Once these two roads are finally paved, only God knows how swiftly the near-dead transnational trade will revive, offering a lifeline to the millions currently trapped in the dual clutches of poverty and a forced culture of insurgency.”

Shettima’s words at the flag off event further proved how sincere he is about helping his people, and many others, to end their years of suffering  when he said “Roads are the live wire of our commercial engagements. They determine whether the farmer reaches the market, the trader reaches the customer, the child reaches school, the patient reaches care, and security agencies reach communities in time.

“Bad roads are also a security risk. A corridor that is difficult for citizens to travel is equally difficult for security personnel to patrol and protect. Promises acquire meaning when citizens can drive on the roads, move their goods, reach their families, and live with greater security.”

With heavy duty equipment already moving to site, the people of Borno have now, more than ever before, come to accept the Vice President as the most influential political entity ever produced by the state since the return of democracy. 

I’m ending this article, which is my own opinion piece, with the words of Marcus Aurelius who admonished that: “If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.” As a journalist I found it right and duty bound to do this because it echoes the newfound truth of a sceptical society. 

*Abdulkareem, is a conflict and humanitarian reporter writes from Maiduguri