By Yinka Giwa
• VP Shettima Stirs Fresh Controversy on Fubara’s Sack At Abuja Book Launch
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday recounted how he narrowly survived an attempt to remove him from office as Borno State Governor in 2014, revealing that the effort failed due to the principled stance of then-Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Speaking in Abuja at the launch of a book authored by the former AGF, titled “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3b Nigerian Oil Bloc,” Shettima revealed that there had been strong moves within the Jonathan administration to remove him via the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno State. However, Adoke and Tambuwal resisted the move, firmly insisting that a president lacked the constitutional authority to sack even an elected councillor, let alone a governor.
Though not explicitly stated, the Vice President’s comments on the powers of a President to remove an elected official have stirred fresh controversy over the suspension, in March, of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fubara was controversially removed from office over the roiling political crisis in Rivers , which had led to attacks on oil installations and was threatening to spill into the streets of the state. Political observers and commentators had slammed the President Tinubu administration for what they described as an overstep of its powers, pointing out that the President lacked the constitutional authority to remove any elected official from office for even one day.
According to Shettima, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, “Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, with whom we have now buried the hatchet and recalibrated our relationship, was considering the removal of ‘this Borno Governor, this Borno Governor.’ But Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had the courage to tell him, ‘Your Excellency, you don’t have the power to remove an elected councillor.’”
The Vice President continued: “I was enemy number one at the time. The President brought up the idea at the Federal Executive Council meeting. But Mohammed Bello Adoke stood firm and told the President directly that he had no constitutional power to remove a sitting governor. Another lawyer in the cabinet, Kabiru Turaki, agreed with Adoke. That was how the matter was settled. My bond with Adoke and Tambuwal was sealed that day.”
The book launch brought together a host of political figures and dignitaries. In the memoir, Adoke offers an insider account of the highly controversial 2011 Resolution Agreements involving the Nigerian government, Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, Shell Plc, and Italy’s Eni S.p.A. The OPL 245 transaction has been the subject of international investigations in the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and the United States.
Shettima praised Adoke’s courage in documenting the episode, stating that public officers who occupy sensitive positions must take responsibility for their actions and be willing to tell their stories. “Adoke’s refusal to allow the abuse of executive power shows the kind of integrity we rarely see,” he said.
In his remarks, Adoke stated that the motivation for writing the book was not to attack anyone, but to provide historical clarity on a transaction he believes served Nigeria’s strategic interests in the oil and gas sector. “I did not set out to denigrate anyone, but to set the record straight and provide valuable insights into a transaction that advanced national interest and protected Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources,” he said.
Adoke revealed that his refusal to yield to the demands of powerful individuals—including allies of the late General Sani Abacha with ties to former President Muhammadu Buhari—resulted in a sustained campaign of vilification, harassment, and criminalization against him.
He added: “I have forgiven those responsible for my persecution. But I suffered enormous personal loss, public disgrace, damaged reputation, lost earnings, and deep family trauma, because I followed the lawful instructions of the President under constitutional authority in 2011.”
He accused both local and international anti-corruption campaigners of misusing their platforms, saying some engaged in unethical and illegal tactics aimed solely at destroying reputations. “The book shows how some so-called anti-corruption efforts were less about justice and more about settling political scores. The public must reject these practices,” Adoke declared.
Adoke also described how, during his ordeal, a senior public officer offered to lie under oath “in the national interest” to help the government win a baseless case against him. “This is why prosecutions must be evidence-driven, ethical, and devoid of political motivations,” he stated.
Other speakers at the launch included former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. El-Rufai recounted how Adoke played a crucial role in convincing former President Jonathan to peacefully concede defeat and transfer power to Muhammadu Buhari following the 2015 presidential election.
Also present was former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, who represented former President Jonathan at the event. As chairman of the launch, Anyim reminded Nigerians that true power lies with God, not with men. “Any society that neglects justice will never achieve peace or progress,” he said.
The book was formally reviewed by Dr. Reuben Abati, who served as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Jonathan during part of Adoke’s tenure as Justice Minister.
The event not only revisited a critical moment in Nigeria’s democratic history but also highlighted the personal sacrifices made by public officials who stood their ground in defence of constitutional order.