Maryam Shetty, who was withdrawn as a ministerial nominee by President Bola Tinubu on Friday afternoon, was a staunch supporter of Yemi Osinbajo, former vice-president.
On Wednesday, Shetty’s name appeared among the 19 ministerial nominees forwarded to the senate, after the screening of the first batch of 28 had commenced.
Her nomination elicited mixed reactions on social media. While some questioned her experience, others called her a “TikTok influencer”.
Two days after her nomination, she was replaced by Mariya Mahmoud, former commissioner for higher education in Kano in the administration of Abdullahi Ganduje.
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Ganduje was recently elected national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
SHETTY SUPPORTED OSINBAJO IN HIS BID FOR PRESIDENTIAL TICKET
Social media trail has shown that Shetty threw her support behind Osinbajo in his bid for the APC presidential ticket. She was literally embedded in his campaign for the presidency.
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Shetty shared, retweeted and posted videos and images from the Osinbajo presidential campaign organisation.
In April of 2022, Shetty tweeted: “I have had the tremendous pleasure of accompanying His Excellency Prof Osinbajo to Edo and Delta states respectively, to talk to the delegates. The Oba of Benin accolades were simply epic and an unblemished truth”.
I have had the tremendous pleasure of accompanying HE @ProfOsinbajo to Edo and Delta States respectively, to talk to the delegates. The Oba of Benin accolades were simply epic and an unblemished truth!#PYO#webelieve!🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/MS3B9gjWoN
— @MaryamShetty (@maryamshetty) April 29, 2022
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She also shared the video of the former vice-president declaring his intention to run for president on April 11, 2022.
Building on the current administration's legacy….A must watch @ProfOsinbajo pic.twitter.com/U4AR7BC6yl
— @MaryamShetty (@maryamshetty) April 30, 2022
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Tinubu eventually nicked the APC presidential ticket on June 8, 2022 ahead of Rotimi Amaechi, Osinbajo and other contestants.
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TAKEN UNAWARES
Shetty was clearly taken unawares by the withdrawal of her name during senate plenary.
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The politician and her supporters were told at the gate of the senate that her name had been replaced with that of Mahmoud, sources told TheCable.
Breaking: Kano State Ministerial Nominee, Dr Maryam Shetty arrived at the National Assembly for Screening.
Kindly get close to your television and watch her screening. #WeBelieveinMaryamShetty.#WeBelieve pic.twitter.com/ip22IiOUyN
— Babangida Jarmari🇳🇬 (@jarmari01) August 4, 2023
REACTIONS OVER SHETTY’S WITHDRAWAL
Shetty topped the Twitter trends list in the hours following the withdrawal of her nomination.
See some tweets below.
This is not right though, it's the Presidents prerogative to nominate and remove names of nominees but someone should have communicated the Presidents decision to Maryam Shetty.
Impressed that she took the dissapointment in a dignified manner. The Presidency should do better. https://t.co/6QSGIzO1uJ— Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí 🇳🇬 (@ogundamisi) August 4, 2023
Maryam Shetty is a dedicated frontline party loyalist. The decision that led to her replacement had absolutely nothing to do with social media outrage in some quarters. This change is likely for the best for her, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) August 4, 2023
You people don’t care about Maryam Shetty or anything really, you are just sad your candidate finished 3rd. Wise people know when to move on from their losses! It’s okay to be sad, but move on. The elections are over. You have a president now. Deal with it. https://t.co/ZYyLn5TFg1
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) August 4, 2023
I pity Maryam Shetty, irrespective of whether she is qualified to be a minister or not. I blame the process that nominated her and then withdrew her name. This is embarrassing, and she might never recover from this humiliation.
— Peacock (@dawisu) August 4, 2023
The Maryam Shetty issue reminds me of when Prince Audu won election as Governor of Kogi and died some hours later because it was never meant to be as providence has already taken effect. Maryam’s case isn’t about death but about the fact that it has been destined not to happen.
— Mr. El-Bonga (@el_bonga) August 4, 2023
Maryam Shetty's name removal now shares the top spot for Worst Political Heartbreaks, along with David Lyon's disqualification.
The game remains undefeated
— Akin Akinwale (@mrlurvy) August 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/__yellows/status/1687529503998803968?s=20
A LESSON IN DISAPPOINTMENT
Maryam Shetty was already in the National Assembly Complex for her screening as a ministerial nominee when a further directive withdrawing her nomination arrived from the presidency. As a Muslim, this is a huge test of faith, and I believe that she
— Sanusi Lafiagi PhD (@sirnucy) August 4, 2023
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