Fact-Check: Did VP Shettima Publicly Express Feelings of Neglect in Tinubu’s Administration?
Claim:
A Facebook post featuring a picture of Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima is circulating on social media. It allegedly quotes him as saying that he has been sidelined in the current administration, with President Bola Tinubu delegating all his responsibilities to his son, Seyi Tinubu.
The text accompanying the image reads:
Breaking News: “I don’t feel like I belong or have the authority of the Vice President of Nigeria. President Tinubu is delegating all my responsibilities to his son, leaving me powerless. It feels like I am only in office to appease the North and prevent political instability,” said Vice President Kashim Shettima, allegedly revealing internal power struggles within Aso Rock.
Verification:
To verify the authenticity of this claim, PRNigeria‘s fact-checking team conducted a reverse image search, which confirmed that the image was edited from an existing photograph. Further investigation showed that the claim, which began trending on January 31, 2025, was widely circulated by a Facebook page called “PDP MEDIA VANGUARD”.
PRNigeria‘s analysis of Nigeria’s governance structure shows that the Vice President holds statutory roles, including:
- Participation in cabinet meetings
- Membership in key national councils
- Chairmanship of the National Economic Council (NEC)
While the President holds ultimate executive authority, the Vice President has remained actively involved in key government functions.
Fact-Check Findings:
Contrary to the viral claim, available evidence shows that Vice President Kashim Shettima has been assigned and has executed several key responsibilities on behalf of President Tinubu, including:
Read Also:
- Leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York (September 2024).
- Representing Nigeria at COP28 in Dubai, UAE (December 13, 2024).
- Standing in for President Tinubu at the commissioning of a $315 million oil production and storage facility by Oriental Energy Limited (December 14, 2024).
- Leading a Nigerian delegation to Jeddah for a bilateral meeting with the President of the Islamic Development Bank (December 20, 2024).
- Representing Nigeria at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa (October 2024).
These publicly available records confirm that Vice President Shettima continues to perform official government duties in a delegated capacity.
Meanwhile, media reports confirm that Seyi Tinubu has accompanied his father on official visits, sparking debates on social media. Examples include:
- In February 2024, Seyi Tinubu was part of President Tinubu’s entourage to Qatar.
- In January 2024, he joined the President on a state visit and flew on NAF 001 to Imo State for an inauguration ceremony.
However, Seyi Tinubu has no official government position and has not been assigned publicly acknowledged state responsibilities.
Furthermore, no credible media reports, official government sources, or independent investigations confirm that Vice President Shettima made such a statement.
Conclusion:
PRNigeria’s investigation found no evidence to support the claim that Vice President Shettima stated he was being sidelined or that his responsibilities were being transferred to Seyi Tinubu. The viral post is false and appears to be a politically motivated misinformation campaign.
Verdict: FALSE
By PRNigeria
