Again, Shettima Warns Protests May Be Hijacked By Troublemakers

Vice President Kashim Shettima has solicited Nigerians’ support for implementing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s programmes and policies, insisting that the President means well for all Nigerians.

According to him, contrary to speculations in some quarters, President Tinubu is neither anti-north nor anti-Islam. He noted that the President has reflected this in appointments to key positions in Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

According to a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Senator Shettima stated this when he received representatives of media practitioners from the northern part of the country on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

On the planned nationwide protest, Senator Shettima acknowledged the right of citizens to protest, noting, however, that it has its demerits that are not pleasant.

“Today, if they say there will be a protest, it will amount to many losses. Protest is the right of the people, but let it be known that historically, it has been hijacked by unscrupulous elements,” the Vice President stressed.

The Vice President said that the current statistics of appointments into MDAs show President Tinubu’s choice of northerners for key areas such as agriculture, security, communications technology, health, and allied services, among other positions in the federal government.

VP Shettima maintained that the present administration genuinely intends to transform the lives of many in the North through laudable initiatives to address the issues confronting the people.

Citing the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC) and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development as examples, the Vice President said, “President Tinubu means well for the North. Let us disabuse the minds of our people who have been misinformed that the President does not like the North.

“Who was instrumental in signing the Northwest Development Commission bill into law, and who created the Ministry of Livestock Development? It is this same President. He approved the launch of the RSPIC Initiative – a non-kinetic approach to the crisis in the northwest region by building an entire ecosystem for victims of the crisis. These policies will have a direct and positive impact on the northern people.