09/06/2026
That “sell ice cream” line wasn’t said by a VP of Nigeria. It was said _about_ a VP, by Kashim Shettima in June 2022 – before he became VP.
What actually happened
During the APC presidential primaries in 2022, Shettima was campaigning for Bola Tinubu. In a Channels TV interview he said:
> “Osinbajo is a good man; he’s a nice man. But nice men do not make good leaders because nice men tend to be nasty. Nice men should be selling popcorn, ice cream. d0c0
He was talking about then-VP Yemi Osinbajo, who was also contesting for the APC ticket.
Why did Shettima say it?
1. Political marketing – He was contrasting Tinubu vs Osinbajo. His argument: Osinbajo is “cerebral” and “decent” but Tinubu has the “intellect, capacity, reach” to win elections.
2. “Nice” = weak narrative – He was pushing the idea that politics requires ruthlessness. In his words: nice men “tend to be nasty” and don’t make good leaders. So they belong in “soft” businesses like ice cream/popcorn, not the presidency.
3. Primary season jab – It was meant to downplay Osinbajo’s chances against Atiku: “We need someone who can match and even overshadow him in terms of brand name recognition”. He also called Senate President Lawan a “tomato dealer”. d0c01d84
Aftermath – Nigerians were not happy because:
1. Seen as insulting – Many felt it was demeaning to Osinbajo, who was sitting VP. Also demeaning to ice cream/popcorn sellers – as if those jobs are for “weak” people.
2. Backlash was instant – Osinbajo supporters set up “Osinbajo popcorn; serving goodness to all Nigerians” and “Osinbajo ice-cream” stands at the APC convention.
3. Shettima apologized – 2 days later he said: “I never set out to denigrate… I hereby tender my unreserved apologies to the Vice President”. Said it was “taken out of context”.
4. Osinbajo later joked about it – At a book launch he called Shettima “chairman of the Yemi Osinbajo ice cream company”.
So to your question: Why would a VP tell Nigerians to sell ice cream?
He wouldn’t, and didn’t. The line was:
- Said by: Shettima, when he was _former governor_, not VP yet
- Said about: Osinbajo, then sitting VP
- Meaning: “Nice guys finish last in politics – they should stick to harmless trades like ice cream”
- Intent: Campaign rhetoric to promote Tinubu as the “tough” candidate d0c0
Why Nigerians didn’t like it: It came off as elitist, dismissive of Osinbajo’s record, and disrespectful to small traders. Plus, many Nigerians actually _like_ “nice” leaders and were tired of the “ruthless strongman” model.
Shettima became VP in 2023. He and Osinbajo have since made peace publicly, with Osinbajo even joking about the “ice cream company”.
