Vice President Kashim Shettima has firmly denied speculation of a rift between him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following online reports that suggested he subtly criticized the President’s handling of the political situation in Rivers State.

In a statement issued by his office on Friday, Shettima decried what he called “deliberate misrepresentation” and “intellectual dishonesty” aimed at sowing division within the Presidency.

The Vice President’s remarks originally made during the public unveiling of OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block, a book authored by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, were, according to the statement, taken out of context.

“Certain individuals and platforms have stripped the Vice President’s remarks of their context to push a false narrative,” the rebuttal read.

“This is not only misleading but also a calculated attempt to fabricate a non-existent conflict within the administration.”

During his address at the event, Shettima recounted experiences from his time as Governor of Borno State during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency.

In his account, he recalled how the Jonathan administration allegedly contemplated removing him from office.

He explained that his remarks were intended to highlight Adoke’s role during that turbulent era, emphasizing integrity and democratic responsibility.

However, sections of the media interpreted his reflections as veiled criticism of President Tinubu’s response to the recent unrest in Rivers State particularly the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Shettima’s office rejected this connection outright, stating:

“The Vice President was not referring to Governor Fubara’s suspension or any current political matter. Any attempt to link his remarks to Rivers State is grossly inaccurate and mischief-laden.”

Clarifying the administration’s stance on the Rivers crisis, the statement noted that the President’s actions were guided by constitutional provisions.

“The President’s intervention in Rivers followed constitutional processes outlined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, designed to address threats to peace, law, and order in a state,” it added.

The Vice President’s office stressed that the suspension of a state official is not equivalent to outright removal, and comparing the situation to Shettima’s past ordeal under Jonathan was “a distortion driven by mischief or ignorance.”

Reiterating his allegiance, Shettima affirmed that his comments were never intended as a critique.

“He spoke extemporaneously, and always within the bounds of loyalty and respect for the President and the government he serves,” the statement said.

Calling for responsible journalism and political maturity, Shettima urged stakeholders to avoid exploiting harmless public remarks to create imaginary tensions within the government.

“This administration will not be distracted by deliberate mischief. The focus remains on delivering good governance and upholding democratic principles,” he added.

This isn’t the first time the Presidency has responded to rumours of discord between Tinubu and Shettima.

Back in September 2024, similar claims made rounds online, prompting Shettima’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, to issue a strong rebuttal.

“In the history of Nigeria’s Presidency, no vice president has enjoyed the total confidence and full support of his principal like Shettima,” Nkwocha stated during the Vice President’s 58th birthday celebration.

“In return, his loyalty to his boss, President Tinubu, is absolute and unalloyed.”

Nkwocha had further praised Shettima as a standout political figure whose relationship with the President represents:

“A refreshing shift towards harmonious collaboration in a political environment often marred by rivalry and undercurrents.”

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally informed the Nigerian Senate of her intention to resume legislative duties on Tuesday, July 15, citing a recent Federal High Court ruling that nullified her suspension.

In a letter addressed to the Senate and submitted through her legal representatives, M.J. Numa & Partners LLP, the senator demanded full compliance with the court’s decision, which declared her six-month suspension “excessive, overreaching, and inconsistent” with constitutional provisions.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had previously ruled that the suspension violated Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution, and infringed on the rights of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents to have parliamentary representation.

The letter, dated July 11, 2025, and titled:
“RE: SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. The Clerk of the National Assembly & Ors.: Forwarding of court order and demand for compliance”,
was signed by lead counsel Michael Jonathan Numa, SAN.

It stated in part: “After a thorough consideration of the facts and applicable law, the Honourable Court made several findings and orders, including, notably, a definitive pronouncement in Order 10 that the six-month suspension imposed on the Plaintiff was excessive, overreaching, and inconsistent with her ability to comply with the provisions of Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team urged the Senate to act without delay in restoring her seat, writing:

“We respectfully demand that you give immediate effect to the clear and binding Order of the Federal High Court by taking all necessary steps to facilitate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption of her legislative duties forthwith, in full compliance with the Court’s judgment.”

In the letter, the senator also made her return date clear:

“Please, also take notice that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan intends to resume her legislative duties on Tuesday, the 15th day of July, 2025.”

This development follows a decision by Justice Binta Nyako, who ruled that the Senate’s action lacked constitutional authority and ordered the senator’s immediate reinstatement.

The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has emphasized the importance of maintaining political power in Southern Nigeria for at least the next four to six years to ensure balance and inclusivity in governance.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Musawa said that Nigeria’s political reality still requires zoning due to lingering ethnic divisions.

“I think zoning is important only because we have not been able to get over the doldrums of ethnicity and we’re not looking at ourselves as Nigerian,” she said.

Reflecting on the political dynamics following the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, Musawa argued that it was only just that leadership shifted away from the North.

“So it is understandable that after eight years of President Buhari, who was from the North, power needed to shift down to the South.”

She further noted that while she looks forward to a time when merit alone determines political leadership, the country isn’t there yet.

“Hopefully one day we’ll be able to get over that and candidates will only be judged on their capacity and what they have to bring to the table. But since we are not there yet for the benefit of this politics now, power should certainly for the next four, six years remain in the Southern part of the country.”

Musawa also mentioned a personal project aimed at national unity, a poem she authored titled “I Am a Nigerian”.

According to her, the poem will soon be re-aired on national platforms as part of ongoing efforts to promote a sense of shared identity.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has launched a scathing critique of the Bola Tinubu administration, describing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project as a “scam” and questioning the government’s delivery of impactful infrastructure to Nigerians.

Speaking during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, broadcast on Channels Television on Friday, Lawal said the current administration has yet to implement any tangible project that positively affects the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“If you ask me, ‘What projects has this government implemented so far that are visible to Nigerians and have impacted their lives?’ I cannot see any,” he said.

“At least in northern Nigeria, where I am a frequent traveller, I don’t see any road that they are constructing or rehabilitating. In the South-West, I don’t think there is any.”

Lawal also criticized the long-standing Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, claiming it has become a recurring tool for political propaganda across different administrations.

“They are still talking about the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which it appears every government talks about and votes money for, and it never goes anywhere.”

He didn’t mince words when addressing the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, dismissing it entirely.

“Their so-called coastal road is just a scam. Every Nigerian knows it is a scam. Even before they started, we knew it would be a scam, and it has become a scam.”

President Bola Tinubu flagged off the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in May, a 30-kilometre stretch running from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in Lekki, Lagos.

The project, which is projected to span over 700 kilometres, has stirred significant public debate and criticism over cost and execution.

Lawal, however, questioned the rationale behind commissioning a small portion of such a massive project, especially amid rising public debt.

“You borrow money from Europe, and before it comes, it is spent over there. So, I don’t understand. What can Nigerians see?” he asked.

“It has become such that the President can go and commission 30 kilometres of a 700km road — which has even become a source of controversy. So, what are they doing with our money?”

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has called on discontented members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who recently left the party to join a political coalition to reconsider their decision and return to help rebuild from within.

Speaking during the South-West Zonal Caucus meeting of the PDP held on Friday in Ibadan, the state capital, Makinde likened their departure to abandoning a home due to minor damage.

“You can’t abandon your house because of a leaking roof,” he said, directly addressing party members who joined the newly formed coalition with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Makinde stressed that the PDP, like any longstanding institution, might face internal challenges but remains fundamentally strong and worth preserving.

“The PDP is built on solid foundations,” he noted. “And like any structure, it may face wear and tear.”

He emphasized that party unity and internal effort were necessary to overcome the challenges and maintain relevance in Nigeria’s political future.

“It is the responsibility of all party members to fix the leaks, strengthen the foundation, and keep the house standing for the people of the country,” Makinde added.

Acknowledging the efforts of loyal party members, he praised their continued sacrifices and reiterated his own commitment to unity and collective success.

“Let us fix the roof together and keep this house strong for the future,” he concluded.