2027: “We are all one” – Shettima tells APC, NNPP, ADC, LP

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerian politicians to rise above partisan divides and embrace collective nation-building, regardless of their party loyalties.

His appeal comes amid renewed political alignments and strategic manoeuvrings ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Shettima made this call on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled “OPL245: The Inside Story of the $1.3b Nigerian Oil Bloc”, authored by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN).

Addressing an audience made up of politicians across party lines — including former governors, ministers, and lawmakers — the Vice President noted that what connects the Nigerian political elite is stronger than what divides them. “We are all one,” Shettima declared, acknowledging the diverse crowd, which included notable figures from APC, PDP, NNPP, ADC and others.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by ex-Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, also spoke at the event. He recounted how many of his officials, including Adoke, were persecuted by the Muhammadu Buhari administration after leaving office in 2015. Jonathan described Adoke as one who suffered both at home and abroad but survived to tell his story.

Shettima commended Adoke for his courage and integrity, especially recalling how the former AGF thwarted attempts by the Jonathan administration to unlawfully remove him as Governor of Borno State. According to the Vice President, Adoke upheld the rule of law even in the face of intense political pressure.

He further urged Adoke to forgive his detractors and praised the author for documenting his experiences, saying Nigeria needs more public servants to courageously tell their stories for posterity.

Other dignitaries like Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai lauded Adoke’s decision to set the record straight through his memoir. They emphasised the importance of history, documentation, and respecting the rule of law in public office.

The OPL 245 saga — popularly known as the Malabu oil deal scandal — involved the 2011 sale of one of Nigeria’s richest oil blocs for $1.3 billion, with allegations that much of the money was diverted as bribes. Though Adoke was accused of complicity by the Buhari administration, he was eventually cleared both in Nigeria and internationally.

The event also highlighted the ongoing power recalibrations ahead of 2027, with some opposition politicians already aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new political platform.

In closing, Shettima reminded those currently in power to act with integrity, knowing that leadership positions are transient. “Those in power today must remember their time will come,” he said.