Vice President Kashim Shettima has assumed duties at the Office of the Vice President, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shettima was received at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday by members of staff of the Office of the Vice President and had a brief interaction with the staffers.

President Bola Tinubu and Shettima were sworn in on Monday at Eagle Square, Abuja, by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Shortly after taking his seat at the office, Shettima fielded questions from State House correspondents.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Tinubu Resumes Work At Aso Villa Office

He stated that the new administration is committed to turning around the fortunes of Nigeria and soliciting the maximum support of the citizens.

“To paraphrase the late John Kennedy, To whom much is given, much is expected. I believe this generation of Nigerians has a rendezvous with destiny.

“And my principal, Bola Tinubu, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is poised to redefine the meaning and concept of modern governance.

“I want to assure Nigerians that he is going to provide the leadership and we will rally around him and give him our unequivocal support and loyalty to see the realisation of the Nigerian dream.

“A Nigeria where every black man in the world shall be proud of.

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“This is the greatest black nation on earth; power to me is a humbling experience. It is all about how to make life better for the common man,” the VP said.

Shettima assured that Tinubu would take Nigeria to a high pedestal as he had the skillset, temperament disposition, purity of mind and commitment to give service to the nation.

On fuel subsidy, he said that the president had already made a pronouncement on the issue.

“The truth of the matter is that we either get rid of fuel subsidy or fuel subsidy gets rid of the Nigerian nation.

“And we know the consequences of unveiling a masquerade. We will face fierce opposition from those benefitting from the oil scam – fuel subsidy scam, but where there is will, there is a way.

“Be rest assured that our president is a man of strong will and conviction. In the fullness of time, you will come to appreciate his noble intentions for the nation.

“The issue of fuel subsidy is going to be pointedly addressed.’’

On multiple exchange rates, he said there was a need to collapse it into one.

He said that the new administration would soon unveil its agenda.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Tinubu Makes First Set Of Appointments [SEE NAMES]

“The president is going to unveil his agenda because as I have always said, there can never be two captains on the same ship.

“He is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. As the vice president, your relevance is directly proportional to your level of loyalty to your principal.”

Shettima described Tinubu as a gentleman that he has known for over a decade.

He said he has interacted closely with the president.

The VP assured that they are going to work harmoniously as a team, as a family, for the greater good of our nation.

He commiserated with Daar Communications over the death of its founder, Raymond Dokpesi whom he described as a good friend and good man.

NAN

The chief whip of the Ninth Senate, Orji Kalu, has declared that he won’t step down for anybody in the Senate Presidency race.

Kalu made this known during a press briefing on Tuesday morning at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

He also added that he was in talks with one of the contenders for the Seanet Presidency, former Zamfara governor, Abdulaziz Yari over collaboration and partnerships.

The National Working Committee of the All Progressive Party had named Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau as its preferred candidates for the office of the Senate President and Deputy respectively.

Senator Kalu said, “I won’t step down for anybody.

READ ALSO: Senate Presidency: APC May Settle For S-South, Tips N-West for Deputy

“We are talking with Governor Yari. Our group and his group are talking intimately and in partnership. We will make sure that no one zone can produce the Senate presidency. Like I used to tell people, no zone can produce the president of Nigeria.

“What we are trying to do with Senator Yari is a united partnership that will work for Nigeria. In the coming days or weeks, that partnership will be unveiled, so we are in serious talks. I cannot deny it; Yari is a friend of mine and I’m his friend and we have decided to talk. We have been speaking for the past four weeks and the result will be unveiled by our sponsors, he has his sponsors and I have my sponsors.”

He added, “The sponsors will come together to decide what direction this partnership will be. I’ll be very happy to reveal what the sponsors will say. Two of us are thinking of the integrity of the Senate and support President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima. If you are thinking that what happened during Saraki’s time, it will never happen again.”

The PUNCH reports that in 2015, Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara state, defied the All Progressives Congress to emerge senate president. The ruling party at the time chose current Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

READ ALSO: 10th NASS Leadership: Why Akpabio May Drop Senate Presidency Ambition

The chief whip noted that the collaborations of Kalu-Yari won’t disappoint Nigerians.

He said, “We are capable of representing ourselves; Yari-Kalu – Kalu-Yari – we won’t disappoint Nigerians. We will give Nigerians what they require and the Nigerian people won’t be disappointed.”
PUNCH

There was mild drama in Kano State after the swearing-in of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Monday.

Gov Yusuf refused to sit in the official chair used by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

In a viral video, the newly sworn-in governor was seen opting for an unofficial smaller seat as he prepared to give an address.

READ ALSO: Tinubu’s Inaugural Speech Shallow, Lacks Substance – Labour Party

After he was declared the winner of the last governorship election, Yusuf vowed to review some of Ganduje’s policies.

The governor had vowed to probe the N241 billion debt inherited from Ganduje’s administration.

Watch the video here:

VIDEO: New Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, declines to use the official seat formerly used by former Governor Ganduje, on Monday. pic.twitter.com/bWvvkWDEKI

— LEADERSHIP NEWS (@LeadershipNGA) May 29, 2023

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