Minister Musawa Slams Datti Baba-Ahmed Over Comments on VP Shettima

The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has strongly criticized Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed for his recent remarks about Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Baba-Ahmed, who served as the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, had stirred controversy during an interview on Arise News. He suggested that President Bola Tinubu has shown “rare patience” by retaining Shettima as Vice President, hinting at undisclosed issues surrounding the VP.

When asked about speculations that President Tinubu might be reconsidering the vice presidency ahead of the 2027 election, Baba-Ahmed implied that Shettima should not have remained in office this long. While declining to provide specific details, he asserted that “anyone who knows what Shettima did” would not have tolerated his continued presence in office.

In a swift response during her appearance on Arise News on Wednesday night, Minister Musawa condemned Baba-Ahmed’s comments, describing them as baseless and inflammatory.

“What was he trying to say? I didn’t understand what he was trying to say,” Musawa said. “He was making insinuations—very dangerous insinuations—based on lies, and I think it’s a real shame. I believe Datti owes the Vice President an apology.”

Musawa’s remarks reflect growing political tensions as speculation mounts about potential shifts in the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.