Vice President Kashim Shettima says his house in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, is better than the residence of President Bola Tinubu at Bourdillon in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Shettima, a two-term former governor of Borno State, said he saw nothing special during his visit to Tinubu’s house.

The vice president stated this at the launching of a book titled, “Navigating the Politics of Universal Education Policies in Nigeria”, authored by the former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, in Abuja on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

He urged Nigerians to invest their trust in Tinubu, stressing that the president meant well for the country.

Shettima said: “Tinubu is not in power to engage in primitive capital accumulation, nor is he in power to leave landmarks in the sands of time.

“I’m not playing politics, I’m speaking from the heart. I have seen the soul of Bola Tinubu, and he has a good soul. He is the most demonised politician in Nigeria.

“The first time I went to his house at Bourdillon, I was looking forward to seeing a mansion comparable to Buckingham Palace, with gardens, and swimming pools.

”But there was nothing special about that house. My house in Maiduguri is better than the house in Bourdillon.”

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The vice president further assured Nigerians that in the coming months, the country would witness a positive change in the economy and fortunes of the nation.

Shettima urged governments at all levels to focus on policies that empower those at the forefront of implementing initiatives that inspire interest in education.

Shettima added: “Tinubu’s decision to establish the Students’ Loan Scheme in the country was to secure the future of Nigerian children.

“The initiative ensures that every student has access to loans to pay their tuition, and the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has already recorded an overwhelming number of applications.

“This is a landmark achievement, signalling the bright future we are building for our youth.

“Beyond making education universally free, our experience shows that incentivising is the most practical gateway before us.

“This is why all of us, across all levels and branches of government, must join this campaign to educate the nation.”

He, therefore, commended Adelabu for providing answers to some of the most pressing challenges confronting policymakers in the book.

The Star