Vice President Kashim Shettima Clocks 57
By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo
POLITICS DIGEST- The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima clocks 57 on 2nd September, 2023. In significant terms every 2nd September is about the man of eloquent and pragmatic disposition. I did not just describe his Excellency with those beautiful adjectives in my previous article dated 4th June, 2023 titled “Kashim Shettima and His Eloquent Disposition” but he evidently earned them.
He is a jolly good fellow of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and, like I said long ago that he would be a great asset to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, he has indeed proven this by working diligently side by side with the President since the inception of this administration. His goal, no doubt, is to achieve a better country where prosperity would penetrate every citizen.
Earlier in the week the Vice President with pragmatic disposition cautioned his supporters in the way they would want to celebrate his 57nd birthday as he urged his friends and political allies to refrain from placing birthday wishes on newspaper pages or utilizing paid channels to convey greetings in their efforts to commemorate his birthday. Here is the full text of what he said:
“Dear friends and
well-wishers,
“Greetings to you all.
“As we approach the anniversary of my birth on September 2nd, I am utterly grateful for the warm wishes and kind sentiments that many of you have expressed over the years. Your thoughtfulness has touched my heart and has been a source of immense joy.
“At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to humbly request that you consider celebrating this occasion in a different way. In the spirit of our nation’s commitment to responsible resource management and responsive governance, I kindly ask you to refrain from placing birthday wishes on newspaper pages or utilizing paid channels to convey your greetings.
“I invite you to join me in channeling our collective efforts towards a nobler cause. Instead of spending resources on such messages, I encourage you to contribute to the betterment of our society by donating to charity organizations in need, or your preference, in our collective pursuit of a humane and functional world.
“Thank you for your understanding and for being my all-weather friends and allies.
Warm regards.
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It is only a man of an envious social class who understands the nitty gritty of prudent and responsive governance that would come out with this kind of message when people are expected to be celebrating him in a gallant manner. Moreover, his disposition would not be unconnected to the hardships Nigerians are currently experiencing against the backdrop of the removal of fuel subsidy. Celebrating him grandly at this time would certainly run counter to the reality of the nation’s economic challenges.
In a well articulated birthday message by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and publicity, the president extols Senator Kashim Shettima for his undying loyalty to the Nation:
“On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shares in the joy of well-deserved celebration as Vice President Kashim Shettima turns 57 on September 2, 2023.
President Tinubu joins family, friends and associates of the former Executive Governor of Borno State in thanksgiving to God for the sustained grace of wisdom, character, compassion and bold leadership demonstrated by the Vice President over his years of service to Nigeria with notable distinction in both the private and public sectors.
President Tinubu extols Senator Shettima for his undying loyalty to the nation, and his steadfast resolve to improve the society throughout an illustrious career, which included service in education as a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, before moving into and rising meteorically through the banking industry, before accepting to serve Borno State as a commissioner in five different ministries.
The President extols the Vice President for his unusual courage in presiding over Borno State for eight years, during which a deadly insurgency riddled large areas of the North East. This remarkable public servant defied all odds in the region with a ferocious, intellectual mind and an innovative doggedness to solve dynamic problems with dynamic solutions, building high-quality leaders and institutions for the sustainably developing future of Borno State.
As the able Vice President celebrates another year of life, the President prays for the continued well-being of the quintessential political leader and his family”.
If one digests what President Bola Tinubu said about him one would conclude that Kashim Shettima is a complete Nigerian with little or no inadequacies in his character and loyalty. He is bold, consistent and impeccable.
I join other Nigerians to wish him a happy and prosperous birthday.
