ABUJA — The race for Aso Rock 2027 has officially “entered gear.” Yesterday, Vice President Kashim Shettima stormed the APC headquarters to submit President Bola Tinubu’s re-election papers, effectively telling the opposition that the “Jagaban” is ready for a second round.
While the ceremony was filled with the usual political heavyweights and “Agbada” flair, the message from the VP was aimed straight at the pockets of the common man. Shettima didn’t shy away from the “tough times” Nigerians are facing; instead, he doubled down on them, calling the government’s harsh economic policies the “only way out” of the mess the country was in.
“No More Blame Games”
Speaking to a cheering crowd at the Shettima Hall, the VP said the time for complaining about the past is over, even though the administration inherited “empty pockets” in 2023. He described President Tinubu as a leader who chose “responsibility over excuses.”
“We know things are hard,” Shettima admitted, acknowledging the high cost of food and fuel that has dominated the dinner table conversations of millions. “But you don’t fix a broken engine by pouring water on it; you have to take it apart. The fuel subsidy had to go so that the country could live. The Naira had to find its true value so that we could stop lying to ourselves.”
He insisted that the “Renewed Hope” agenda is not just a slogan but a “rescue mission.” According to him, the tough decisions were the “surgery” needed to remove the cancer of corruption and waste that had eaten deep into the Nigerian system.
Power and Taxes: The Big Gamble
Shettima also used the opportunity to defend the controversial tax reforms and the shake-up in the power sector. He argued that the new Electricity Act, which allows states to generate their own power, is the real “freedom” Nigerians have been waiting for.
“We are building a Nigeria where your state governor can’t blame Abuja for darkness,” he said. He also touched on the tax reforms, explaining that they aren’t meant to “squeeze” the poor, but to make sure the “big men” and large corporations finally pay their fair share to fund hospitals and schools.
The Road to 2027
With the APC already granting Tinubu a “pass” to skip the usual internal screening, the party is clearly closing ranks. The submission of these forms effectively ends the rumors that the APC might look for a different face for 2027.
But the real test will be on the streets. While Shettima speaks of “capital inflows” and “fiscal balance,” the average Nigerian is looking for “market balance.” The VP’s speech was a plea for patience—a gamble that by the time the first ballot is cast in January 2027, the “bitter medicine” of 2024 and 2025 will have finally started to taste sweet.
Opposition in Disarray?
As Shettima and the APC governors showed off their unity, the VP took a subtle swipe at the opposition leaders who are still struggling to form a solid coalition. He urged Nigerians to stick with a “sailor who knows the sea,” rather than jumping onto a new boat that hasn’t even left the dock.
For the “Street Ledger” readers, the message is clear: The government knows you are hurting, but they are asking you to believe that the pain is the price of a better tomorrow. With 2027 around the corner, the campaign hasn’t just started—it’s going to be a battle of “The Big Reform” versus “The Big Hunger.”
