By Lawan Bukar Maigana
Frankly, as 2027 draws closer, whispers are growing louder; some are plotting, some are speculating, and others are simply wishful thinkers. They say President Tinubu might drop Vice President Kashim Shettima from the ticket to boost electoral chances. But if we are being honest, not sentimental, dropping Shettima would be one of the biggest political mistakes of this era.
Let’s be clear: Shettima wasn’t brought in to win photo ops. He was not chosen to shout. He was chosen because he represents strategy, loyalty, and capacity.
During the 2023 storm, when many were still calculating risks, Shettima stood firm by Tinubu, took all the heat, and became the stabilising voice in the North. He brought Borno home. He calmed the waves of religious tension. He didn’t just represent Northern Nigeria, he defended it.
People love to talk numbers, but politics isn’t always about arithmetic. It is about perception, loyalty, and structure. Yes, the ticket lost five out of six states in the North-East, but let us not be blind to the facts: the region was deeply divided, and only a few could have held it together the way Shettima did with calm, intellect, and dignity.
Some say he is quiet now. That he doesn’t shout like others. But since when did noise become the metric for leadership? The man is focused. In meetings, in negotiations, and in execution, Shettima is playing chess while others are busy playing checkers. He understands the principles of statecraft, loyalty, and sacrifice. And President Tinubu knows this more than anyone else.
Let us also not forget: those pushing to remove Shettima are not doing it for Nigeria’s sake. They want access. They want control. They want to plant division between two men who have stood the test of storms. But Tinubu is no stranger to betrayal and loyalty. He knows that in the trenches of 2023, Shettima was not just a running mate; he was a co-strategist, a co-sufferer, and a co-winner.
And please, let us not pretend that swapping Shettima will win the North. In politics, you don’t throw away the one who stood by you during war, just to flirt with the illusion of peace. The North respects loyalty. The North watches consistently. And dropping Shettima will be read not as a strategy, but as desperation.
Look at Shettima’s journey: former banker, former governor who rebuilt Borno in the middle of terror, a man of books and action. He didn’t become Vice President by luck. He earned it. And he’s still earning it every single day without trying to outshine his principal.
President Tinubu knows the value of this. He knows that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a solo script; it was co-authored with Shettima. Replacing him would mean rewriting the entire playbook at halftime. That is not just risky; it is reckless.
Let us not fall for planted headlines and deliberate silence from those who are trying to test the waters. If anything, Shettima remains Tinubu’s best bet for 2027, not just for the votes, but for the trust, balance, and competence he brings.
You don’t gamble with loyalty. Not when the stakes are this high. Not when your legacy is on the line. Tinubu knows. And that is why he won’t blink.
Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Yobe State and can be reached via email: Lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com.