By John Umeh
Jonathan Tried to Remove Me, But Was Stopped by Adoke and Tambuwal
Shettima: President Lacks Power to Remove Sitting Governors
VP Recounts How Adoke and Tambuwal Stopped Jonathan from Removing Him as Borno Governor
Vice President Kashim Shettima has firmly stated that no president in Nigeria has the constitutional power to remove a sitting state governor, emphasizing the supremacy of the rule of law and the separation of powers in a democratic system. Shettima made this assertion while recalling a critical episode from 2014, during which he faced what he described as an attempted plot by the then-President Goodluck Jonathan to unlawfully remove him from office as the governor of Borno State.
Speaking at a public lecture in Abuja over the weekend, the Vice President recounted how former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke, and then-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, played key roles in defending the Constitution and halting the move, which he described as a politically motivated attempt to oust him from power.
“Let me be clear: no president has the legal authority to sack a duly elected governor. Our Constitution does not provide for such an abuse of power. In 2014, I was the target of such an unconstitutional move, but it was foiled thanks to men of principle and courage,” Shettima said.
A Plot That Almost Changed History
According to Shettima, the move to unseat him was tied to his administration’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno and his perceived opposition to the central government at the time. Amid growing insecurity and political pressure, he said the Presidency had contemplated invoking emergency powers to depose him and install a military administrator.
“They planned to declare a state of emergency and use it as a pretext to remove me,” Shettima recounted. “But Adoke, to his eternal credit, insisted that it would be unconstitutional. And Tambuwal stood his ground on the sanctity of democratic institutions.”
The Vice President noted that such unconstitutional measures, if carried out, could have set a dangerous precedent for executive overreach, undermining Nigeria’s federal structure and democratic stability.
Adoke and Tambuwal: Heroes of Constitutional Order
Shettima praised Mohammed Adoke for refusing to sanction the plan despite intense political pressure, describing him as “a man who chose the Constitution over loyalty to power.” He also lauded Aminu Tambuwal, who was Speaker at the time, for defending legislative independence and standing against unlawful executive interference in state governance.
“Those men may not have always been popular, but in that moment, they upheld the law when it mattered most,” he said.
A Timely Reminder for Today
The Vice President used the opportunity to warn against any future attempt by the federal government to interfere in the affairs of state governments through illegal means. He urged Nigerians and political leaders across party lines to respect constitutional boundaries and allow institutions to function independently.
“Nigeria is a federation. Governors are elected by the people and can only be removed by the same people or through legally recognized processes such as impeachment by their respective State Houses of Assembly or court rulings,” Shettima emphasized.
His comments come amid ongoing debates about the limits of executive authority and the balance of power between the federal and state governments—particularly in times of national crisis.
A Lesson in Resilience
Vice President Shettima’s story serves as both a personal reflection and a broader lesson in democratic resilience. It underscores the importance of courageous leadership, adherence to the rule of law, and the role of individuals in defending democratic norms, even when under pressure.
As Nigeria continues to navigate its complex political landscape, Shettima’s experience is a stark reminder that the strength of a democracy lies not in the power of its leaders, but in their willingness to be bound by the Constitution they swore to uphold.
