Jonathan tried removing me as Borno gov but Adoke stepped in – Shettima

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has narrated how former President Goodluck Jonathan tried to remove him as governor of Borno State.

Shettima was governor of the insurgent-ridden northeast state from May 2011 to May 2019.

At the peak of the insurgency, on December 31, 2011, Jonathan declared a state of emergency in some local governments in Borno and Plateau states.

On May 14, 2013, Jonathan declared a state of emergency for the entire terrorist-plagued states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the public presentation of a book titled ‘OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigeria Oil Block’, authored by former Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, Shettima stated that during the final four years of Jonathan’s administration, he was the most demonised individual.

“There are two gentlemen seated here. Certain decisions are taken in a very rare circle. The President, the Vice President, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“In one of such conclaves, former President Goodluck Jonathan with whom we have sheathed the sword and have now recalibrated our relationship was muting the idea of removing this Borno governor.

“Aminu Tambuwal, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives had the courage to tell the President that your Excellency, you don’t have the powers to remove an elected councillor.

“The President was still not convinced, he muted the idea at the Federal Executive Council,” Shettima said.

The Vice-President praised Adoke for his courage, conviction and unwavering commitment to his principles.

“He (Mr Adoke) told the then President that Mr President you do not have the powers to remove a sitting governor not even a councillor.

“They sought for the opinion of another SAN in the cabinet, Kabiru Turaki, who said ‘I’m concurring with the opinion of my senior colleague’.

“That was how the matter was laid to rest but that was how my relationship with Mr Adoke and Aminu Tambuwal became eternally sealed,” he said.