Baba-Ahmed lauds Shettima over 'improved dress sense'

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the running mate to Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has aimed a sarcastic remark at his counterpart in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima, over his “improved dress sense” to public functions.

Recall that, while filing in for his principal, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference held in Lagos last August, Shettima had caused a ruckus courtesy his choice of oversized suit-and-sneakers combo to the event.

The development made the former Borno State Governor the butt of many jokes on social media where his dress sense was heavily mocked with different posts, leading to #ShettimaChallenge trending on Twitter for days.

Although the APC vice presidential candidate later claimed that he deliberately rocked sneakers on suit to shame the "hostile crowd" at the NBA event, his statement was viewed as an afterthought by social media critics who continued to drag him on the bird app.

Baba-Ahmed noticed an improvement: Meanwhile, speaking at a conference held in Abuja on Thursday, December 1, 2022, the Labour Party vice presidential candidate observed that Shettima has upped his wardrobe game in recent times.

However, while praising his improved dressing sense, Baba-Ahmed said Shettima remains a “morally-bankrupt character” who is out of touch with reality, urging him to desist from belittling his political opponents and improve on his public composure and discipline.

Baba-Ahmed's word: “We congratulate Mr. Shettima on having improved his dressing, but equally remind him that he needs to improve on his public composure and discipline in communication.

“Shettima is called upon to speak kindly and more responsibly about all personalities if only to uphold long-established standards. Little wonder he has consistently put to shame the noble heritage of the great Bornu Empire, in his unguarded and uncultured public pronouncements, which expose his intellectual laziness and discomfort with empirical facts and arguments.

“Regular insults which have now become his trademark, have not spared the current Vice President whom he directed to go and sell ice cream, nor the former vice president whom he described as a pure water seller, a noble venture which serves the populace better than a certain white substance.

“It is pertinent to recall how Mr. Shettima at a recent public event belittled Atiku Abubakar’s educational qualification as well as the modest lifestyle of Peter Obi. Clearly Mr. Shettima is out of touch with reality and cannot understand that people like Peter Obi who have reached the heights in business and material achievement have long transcended the need for ostentatious display of wealth.”

Baba-Ahmed accuses APC of framing Obi: Baba-Ahmed, who couldn't hide his anger, alleged that APC has resorted to promoting falsehood and personal attacks against Obi, because they can't find contentious points of negativity to push.

He also accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, of introducing unethical standard into his campaign.

Baba-Ahmed's word: “It is important to underline that oaths of office do not expire with tenure, and hence the comment that the Northern electorate do not need a Yoruba or Igbo leader is greatly at variance with the oaths of office taken in 1999 and 2003 respectively, and the Peace Accord of 2022.

“This is to call upon the owner of the statement to respectfully retract same in order to be readmitted to the honour list of esteemed presidential candidates. Truth of the matter is that every Nigerian from anywhere needs a credible and competent president.”