Vice President Kashim Shettima’s many attempts to paint President Bola Tinubu as a paragon of modesty are not only disingenuous but an insult to the intelligence of the long-suffering people of Nigeria. While modesty in personal life may be a virtue, history has shown us that it does not guarantee good governance or a beneficial impact on the nation.

Take Mao Zedong, who lived simply and wore plain clothes, yet his policies, like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, caused millions of deaths. Pol Pot, who promoted an agrarian lifestyle and eschewed luxury, led the Khmer Rouge regime, which resulted in the Cambodian genocide. Joseph Stalin, with his austere habits, brutalized the Soviet Union with purges and collectivization. Robespierre of France lived modestly but led the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, causing mass executions and political instability, influencing revolutions worldwide. Nicolae Ceaușescu of Romania while living a relatively simple personal life, his oppressive regime and disastrous economic policies led to severe poverty, human rights abuses, and the eventual downfall of Romania.

These leaders’ modest personal lives did nothing to prevent the catastrophic impact of their policies.

Here at home, former President Goodluck Jonathan was known for his humble beginnings and modest lifestyle while in office. Yet, his tenure from 2010 to 2015 left Nigeria worse off than it was under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Musa Yar’Adua. And who can forget Muhammadu Buhari, whose reputation for frugality and modest living was unmatched, but whose administration wreaked havoc on Nigeria’s economy and internal security?

These examples demonstrate that personal austerity is no guarantee of sound leadership. Instead, what we need are leaders with the vision, competence, and integrity to uplift the nation, not those who cloak themselves in the false narrative of modest living while their policies and actions betray that claim.

Is it not the same Bola Tinubu, whom the Vice President lauds, that built a N21 billion mansion for his deputy while Nigerians suffer in extreme hardship? Is this the same Tinubu who, despite public outcry, purchased a $150 million presidential jet for his personal use? The same Tinubu whose son, Seyi, took the presidential jet for a golf outing in Kano? The same Tinubu who travels across the country with convoys of over 100 vehicles? Under his leadership, Nigeria has fielded the largest official delegations to international meetings, further draining public resources.

Mr. Vice President, Nigerians see through the poor salesmanship. We do not need tales of how the president uses only one wristwatch or how his Bourdillon residence is not comparable to Buckingham Palace. What the people of Nigeria need is genuine leadership that addresses their dire needs and builds a future for all, not just the privileged few.

The Vice President’s insistence on peddling this narrative is an attempt to distract from the harsh realities faced by Nigerians every day. But the truth is clear: the so-called modesty of a leader is irrelevant if the policies they implement are harmful, their actions extravagant, and their governance detrimental to the welfare of the nation.

Mr. Vice President, spare us the rhetoric. Nigerians see through it.