The Northern Vanguard (NV), a political advocacy group based in Abuja, has issued a strong warning to what it described as “desperate elements” allegedly working to undermine the growing synergy between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Thursday, the group’s President, Chief Edward Gulak, urged political detractors to end the “orchestrated campaign of discord” aimed at weakening the unity between the two leaders.
Chief Gulak described the current atmosphere in the presidency as one of “uncommon loyalty, harmony, and shared vision,” adding that any attempt to sow division between Tinubu and Shettima was “not only mischievous but deeply unpatriotic.”
“We are aware that some political merchants, driven by envy and personal bitterness, are hoping to manufacture a rift between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in order to destabilise this administration ahead of 2027,” he said.
He noted that such individuals are disappointed by the strong and united front presented by the President and his Vice, contrasting it with the strained relationship that once existed between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar.
Gulak also commended President Tinubu for what he described as “an inspired decision” in choosing Shettima as his running mate in 2023, noting that the former Borno State governor has fulfilled the expectations of his office with diligence and loyalty.
“Mr. President must be commended for the foresight he showed in picking Senator Kashim Shettima—a man of character, discipline, and strategic depth—as his partner in progress. Those who underestimated his impact in the corridors of power now recognise that Shettima brings much more than symbolic balance to this ticket; he brings substance,” Gulak said.
The Northern Vanguard went on to catalogue the vice president’s qualities, describing him as “a cerebral, loyal, and pragmatic public servant who has chosen to subordinate personal ambition to national interest.”
“Shettima is not just a former governor with experience; he is an intellectual force, a patriot, and one of the few leaders who fully understands the complexities of Nigeria’s security, economy, and regional dynamics,” Gulak added.
He warned that any attempt to ignite division between the two leaders will be resisted by Nigerians who value peace, cohesion, and continuity.
“Nigerians are not interested in palace gossip or recycled scripts of infighting. They want leadership that works, that listens, and that delivers. And that is exactly what this duo is offering. If you destabilise them, you destabilise Nigeria,” Gulak said.
According to the group, the ongoing loyalty and camaraderie between Tinubu and Shettima offer Nigeria a rare opportunity to build political stability that transcends election cycles.
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“Those who wanted to turn the Villa into a boxing ring between principal and deputy must now accept that history will not repeat itself. Vice President Shettima has shown uncommon maturity and statesmanship. He has remained loyal to his principal, refrained from unnecessary headlines, and committed himself to the business of governance,” the statement read.
The group also called on the media and public commentators to be more discerning in their coverage and analysis, urging them to resist “subtle manipulations by agenda-driven actors who seek to invent crisis where none exists.”
As Nigeria’s political class begins to prepare for the 2027 polls, the Northern Vanguard urged all stakeholders to channel their energies toward nation-building rather than sowing seeds of suspicion and division.
“This administration needs focus, not friction. Those manufacturing conspiracy theories must be reminded that Nigerians are watching, and history will not be kind to those who choose sabotage over service,” Chief Gulak concluded.