Vice President Kashim Shettima had the audience laughing on Monday when he admitted that he did not expect to be invited back to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference after last year’s “sneakers saga.”
Reflecting on the incident, Shettima recalled how he trended on social media for nearly a month after being photographed in sneakers and a loose-fitting suit at the NBA event.
“Just before we won the elections and got sworn into office, thanks to that NBA conference in this same Lagos, at this same venue, I trended on the internet for almost a month for wearing sneakers. I thought that would be the last time I’d be invited to speak at your conference. But it’s good to see that wearing sneakers is not a prerequisite for attending NBA events,” he quipped.
He also humorously remembered, “Actually, I was quite the sensation. I remember the famous Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, taking pictures of me in my ‘Mungo Park suit’ when we were called in.”
Representing President Bola Tinubu at the event, Shettima commended the NBA’s long-standing commitment to democratic ideals and the rule of law.
“This administration will continue to uphold the rule of law, adhere to the principles of separation of powers, and tolerate dissent within legal bounds,” he assured the audience,
Shettima concluded by conveying President Tinubu’s message, urging Nigerian lawyers and citizens to collaborate with the government in building a Nigeria that fulfills the aspirations of all its people, stressing that the country must break from past practices to achieve sustainable development.
