Revealed: How Tambuwal Stopped Jonathan From Toppling Elected Governors – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has recounted how he narrowly escaped removal as Borno State Governor during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, crediting his survival to a few courageous voices within the government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to NIVONEWS, Shettima made the revelation on Thursday during the public presentation of “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block,” a memoir by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN).

Speaking at the event, the Vice President said it was the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who stood his ground and told President Jonathan that he had no constitutional authority to remove an elected governor. This intervention, Shettima said, along with that of Adoke and then-Minister Kabiru Turaki, ultimately shielded him from an unconstitutional removal plot.

According to NIVONEWS, Shettima disclosed that Jonathan remained unconvinced until the matter was tabled before the Federal Executive Council, where Adoke firmly told the president, “Mr. President, you do not have the power to remove a governor, not even a councillor.” Turaki, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, backed Adoke’s legal stance—bringing the plan to an end.

He further described the OPL 245 memoir as more than just a personal testimony, calling it a critical contribution to Nigeria’s historical record and a clarion call for public officials to embrace documentation and transparency. “Our stories are not ours alone. They belong to the nation. They belong to history,” Shettima declared.

The Vice President underscored the necessity of preserving national memory and said the book would serve as an “access card” to future hearings in the court of public opinion. He commended Adoke’s courage, noting that the former minister’s reflection in the book would resonate with anyone who had navigated the corridors of Nigerian power.

Former President Jonathan, represented by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, acknowledged the challenges faced by key figures in his administration, singling out Adoke’s ordeal as evidence of political witch-hunts by the succeeding government. He described the book launch as a celebration of victory over deliberate persecution.

According to NIVONEWS, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State described the memoir as a necessary interrogation of how Nigeria manages its resources, arguing that it went beyond the OPL 245 controversy to broader issues of institutional decay and the abuse of discretion in resource governance. Makinde emphasized that though not everyone may agree with the author’s views, the importance of telling the story, with names, dates, and consequences, could not be overstated.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, praised the courage it took for Adoke to document his experience and noted the book would help the next generation understand the political and legal intricacies of the controversial oil deal. He further reminded the audience of Adoke’s pivotal role in persuading President Jonathan to concede defeat in the historic 2015 election.

Adoke, in his remarks, stated that while he was not involved in the original 2006 Malabu agreement, he was vilified for executing a lawful presidential directive in 2011. He reiterated that he wrote the book not to malign anyone but to clarify misconceptions and set the record straight. He expressed forgiveness for those who contributed to his ordeal, including former EFCC boss Ibrahim Magu, whom he said had since apologized and made peace with him.

Adoke also criticized international and local anti-corruption crusaders, accusing them of using unethical tactics and suppressing evidence to achieve pre-determined outcomes. He lamented the financial cost and reputational damage incurred by the Nigerian state in prosecuting what he described as a politically motivated vendetta.

The book, centered on the disputed OPL 245 oil block, also explores the legal and ethical dilemmas faced by public officials. It serves as both a defense and a documentation of the behind-the-scenes events that defined one of Nigeria’s most controversial oil transactions.

According to NIVONEWS, the memoir has reignited national debate around executive overreach, the balance of power, and the responsibility of public servants to document the truth, no matter how uncomfortable.

”NIVONEWS REPORTS”