Former Senator Shehu Sani has offered a thoughtful take on the recent buzz surrounding Vice President Kashim Shettima’s comments at a public book launch—comments that many say stirred political waters a bit too much.
Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), Sani, known for his poetic and often witty expressions, likened Shettima’s remarks to “speaking in tongues”—a subtle way of saying the Vice President may have been too cryptic for his own good.
“When you speak in tongues, utter a phrase or a proverb, you can’t control its interpretation or misinterpretation,” Sani wrote. “My Brother the VP should know this rule better.”
The statement came after Shettima’s speech at the launch of “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block”, a book authored by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke. While reflecting on political history, Shettima recalled efforts to unseat him during his tenure as Borno State Governor under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
But that historical reference didn’t go unnoticed—many Nigerians quickly drew parallels to the current political drama in Rivers State, where President Tinubu’s government recently suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and announced a state of emergency. For some, Shettima’s words felt like subtle shade.
In response, the Vice President’s media office stepped in, stressing that the comments were not directed at President Tinubu nor intended to criticize the handling of Rivers’ political crisis. Instead, they said Shettima was simply reflecting on past experiences and reaffirmed his loyalty to the President.
For Shehu Sani, the lesson is simple: in Nigeria’s ever-sensitive political space, even proverbs can carry weight far beyond their original intent.
