Vice President Kashim Shettima said on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu had been a great supporter of northerners in their quest for political attainment, describing him as “a man who has shown commitment to the well-being of Nigerians.”

The Vice President made this disclosure in his speech at the 3rd Expanded National MSMES Clinics, Ekiti 2024, held on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

According to Shettima: “The road that led us to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu did not happen by chance. This is a man who has shown profound commitment to improving the quality of governance in this nation. He has shown the zeal, the passion, the knowledge and the capacity. We are among the pacesetters of leaders who went about canvassing support for Asiwaju.

When many of his contemporaries were struggling to have a seat at the dinner table in Abuja, he was sacrificing his resources and goodwill energy towards the enthronement of democracy in this country.

“He has been a very veritable sanctuary for victims of political witchhunts. When Atiku Abubakar was harassed, intimidated, dehumanised and chased out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was the Bourdilion he ran to for support and it was in Bourdilion that he got the needed support and he contested for the presidency of this country.

“Four years later, the same Asiwaju supported another Nigerian, to contest for the presidency of this nation, he is the current National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.”

Speaking on the issue of the MSME, the Vice President said: “This expanded clinic has brought together the regulators in the sector alongside business owners and investors from various business classes across the length and breadth of this nation. And we are honoured to be joined by government partners and agencies such as SMEDAN, NEXIM, ITF, NAFDAC and others.

They are here to offer guidance and provide the necessary services for the smooth operation of their businesses. Our private sector partners, including, MAN, NACCIMA and many others, are equally mobilised to collaborate with you in transforming your entrepreneurial dream into reality. Our other MSME clinic is a fully equipped ICT hub in Eriinmope-Ekiti.”

Shettima further revealed: “The governor, during his visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on the MSME clinics, demanded the establishment of another modern ICT facility in the state capital, Ado Ekiti. I conveyed his request to President Tinubu, who has approved the creation of an additional ICT hub in Ado Ekiti. This project will be completed within 90 days.”

On the issue of the MSME programme, the Vice President said that the Federal Government has approved a sum of N150,000 non-refundable grants for each beneficiary.

Other projects commissioned by the Vice President include the Adire Hub located along the Ado-Iworoko-Ekiti Road and the 9.7-kilometre Omisanjana-Ajebandele Deeper Life Road.