Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed how he survived an alleged plot by the administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to remove him from office as Governor of Borno State.
Shettima spoke on Thursday July 10, 2025 during the public presentation of the new book, OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1 .3 Billion Nigeria Oil Block, a memoir by the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Also speaking at the event, President Goodluck stated that Mohammed Adoke, who served as Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) during his administration was hunted globally in connection with the oil prospecting lease (OPL) case.
Further elaborating on his alleged prosecution by the Jonathan administration, Shettima noted that it took the courage of the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and Mohammed Adoke to inform President Jonathan that he did not have the constitutional authority to remove a sitting state governor.
He however, disclosed that he and Jonathan have since reconciled.
Shettima said: ” In the last four years of Jonathan administration, I was the most demonized person. I was public enemy number one. And there are two gentlemen seated here who also took certain decisions in a very rare case.: The former Attorney General of the Federation and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan with whom I have now recalibrated my relationship, was mooting the idea of removing me as Governor of Borno State. Tambuwal the then Speaker, had the courage to tell the President, your Excellency, you don’t have the power to remove even a councillor of a local government. The President was still not convinced.
“He mooted the idea at the Federal Executive Council. I admire Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke fundamentally for his courage, his conviction, and his capacity to stand for what he believed in. He told the then President, “Mr President you do not have the power to remove the Governor”.
According to Shettima, other cabinet members at the time failed to support the move, and that was how the matter was eventually dropped.
He added that his experience marked the beginning of the lasting relationship with Adoke and Tambuwal.
Shettima commended Adoke for what he described as a reconciliatory gesture.
“I commend you for forgiving all those that offended you during your ordeal”.
-9News Nigeria.
