The Centre for Leadership Legacy International (Centre LLI) has criticised the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, over remarks attributed to him concerning Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The civil society organisation described the comments as inappropriate and called on Baba-Ahmed to withdraw them and apologise to the Vice President.
Baba-Ahmed, during an interview with broadcaster Seun Okinbaloye on the Mic On Podcast, reportedly claimed that Shettima does not wear President Bola Tinubu’s signature cap because an Islamic spiritual adviser had advised him against doing so.
Tinubu’s distinctive cap has become closely associated with his political identity and is also worn by some of his supporters and political allies.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Centre LLI described Baba-Ahmed’s claim as “false and mischievous,” arguing that it unnecessarily introduced religion and personal spiritual matters into political discourse.
The statement, signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Dr Abdul Hussein, said wearing the President’s signature cap was a matter of personal choice and should not be regarded as a compulsory demonstration of political loyalty.
“The Asiwaju cap, which has become President Bola Tinubu’s signature and a symbol of loyalty to his political philosophy, is worn by choice, not by compulsion,” Hussein said.
“To reduce the Vice President’s personal style and identity to a purported instruction from a marabout is to peddle religious blackmail and inject spiritual diatribe into our politics.”
Centre LLI also accused Baba-Ahmed of making an unverified claim and argued that political opposition should focus on governance, policies and alternative ideas rather than personal or religious insinuations.
The group said it considered it inappropriate to bring Shettima’s private spiritual life into political debate or use the issue to suggest a division between President Tinubu and the Vice President.
According to the organisation, Shettima’s loyalty to the President and the country should be assessed through his conduct and performance in office rather than his choice of clothing.
“Governance is about performance, not headgear,” the group said.
Centre LLI consequently called on Baba-Ahmed to withdraw the statement and apologise to Shettima and Nigerians.
“Centre LLI therefore calls on Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed to immediately withdraw this inflammatory statement and apologise to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Nigerian Muslims and Nigerians at large for his attempt to weaponise religion to score cheap political points,” the statement added.
The organisation also urged media platforms to exercise caution when providing platforms for politically sensitive statements, particularly those involving religion.
It maintained that political discourse should centre on policies, achievements and credible alternatives rather than religious insinuations or symbols of political loyalty.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
