• Shettima doesn’t reply impostors, says aide
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has condemned the statement credited to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State calling for the proscription of the PDP, describing it as ploy to foist one party system on the country.
In a statement issued yesterday by spokesman of the faction, Mr. Bernard Mikko, it said such a call in a country with an enviable antecedent of multi-party democracy was an aberration.
“The PDP remains the most formidable opposition political organisation in black Africa and any suggestion for its proscription is not only an apparent campaign for one party system, but also an apophasis for dictatorship in Nigeria.
“We therefore call on the organised private sector, the civil society and lovers of democracy all over the world to condemn Shettima’s suggestion as he might be flying a kite for the hawks in the ruling party to surreptitiously foist a one party system on Nigerians. The governor’s ignorance for our constitutional democracy should not be taken for granted.
Mikko said the primary responsibility every government is to protect lives and property of citizens, provide housing, healthcare and basic education.
He said people have lambasted Shettima for failing to meet up these basic responsibility of government to the people of Borno.
“The governor rather than discharging his core mandate to the people of Borno, is more interested in prebendal politics and mischief. Borno State in past two years has been raided over 50 times, while in July 2014 the governor himself admitted that over 176 school teachers have been killed and 900 schools destroyed, culminating into the kidnapping of over 250 Chibok school girls by terrorists under his watch leading into an international outcry.
“Nigerians will recall that only a few days ago, Shettima paid a solidarity visit to Plateau State over unwarranted destruction of lives and property by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State.
“Regrettably, this violence on innocent indigenes of Plateau State escalated as a result of the ineptitude and lackadaisical attitude of the governor and lack of capacity to discharge his basic constitutional mandate leading to insecurity in the contiguous North east zone by the deadly Boko Haram sect, now camouflaging as rampaging herdsmen.
“While the governor was on tour to some peace loving states, two of his close associates (the local government Chairman of Mafa Local government Council and Deputy Chairman of Dama Local Government) being held by security agents for harbouring a notorious Boko Haram kingpin and fugitive of the Nigerian government. Curious Nigerians are worried that the ambush and killing of top military officers in the theatre of military operation in Borno State may have been facilitated by some strategic insiders working as double agents.
“PDP therefore calls Nigerians to remain vigilant as we enter another phase of struggle against hypocrites who have turned constitutional immunity into impunity, brigandage and license to irresponsibility, particularly in Borno State, an ancient empire with richly endowed and distinguished political personages.”
In his reaction, Shettima said he does not respond to impostors.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, the governor said his remarks were taken out of context as he neither wished an end of the PDP nor does he support a one party state that is unhelpful to any meaningful democracy.
“The issue is about PDP and to the best knowledge of everyone, former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, is the one that is recognised by genuine majority of the key leaders and members of the PDP. He is the one that followers seek unlike an imposter that is forcing himself on very unwilling followers.
“In Borno State, like it is in most parts of the country, no one regards Sheriff as National Chairman of the PDP and this is why Shettima will not respond to him. If the statement had come from Makarfi, Shettima would have considered the need to speak or otherwise.
“Sheriff hurriedly issued a statement mainly to lay claims to being leader of PDP, so as to seek relevance whereas, deep down he knows, he is an imposter that is without followers. If he raises any other matter, he might get response but certainly not on PDP. We know who the PDP chairman is.
“Shettima is educated enough to know that the Nigerian constitution does not have room for a political party that has on its platform, sitting governors, senators and members of House of Representatives to be abolished by any individual or institution.
“In the last five years, key leaders of the PDP in Borno State can attest to the fact that from 2003 to date, Shettima has been the most tolerant of the opposition in Borno State. He respects and openly relates with the opposition as everyone can attest. He also knows and respects the fact he has network of friends in the PDP with whom he shares brotherly ties.
“As someone chosen by his humble colleagues to chair the Northern Governors’ Forum, Shettima recognises and respects the fact that there are governors in some of the 19 northern states who are of the PDP and he has excellent relationship with them.
“He could never have meant that the PDP should be proscribed. The governor’s remarks in Benue was in the context of security challenges the country has been bedevilled. Naturally, thoughts of the Boko Haram insurgency that has led to the deaths of 100,000 citizens and destructions of government and private property worth six billion dollars in Borno alone came to his mind.
“Revelations about alleged diversion of funds meant for procurement of arms to prosecute the Boko Haram crisis would hardly stay off the mind of any governor that has suffered as much as Shettima has within the last five years.
“Added to this was the fact that throughout the last five years, Borno received a paltry sum of N200million from the previous administration despite its huge expenditures that include massive support for the armed forces deployed to the state.
“It is only expected that a party, under whose occupation, these happened, would not escape being mentioned by governor of a state that is victim of improper handling of the situation.
“The governor assures those with genuine concerns that he fully supports multi party democracy as he has demonstrated in Borno State within the last five years as governor,” Gusau said.
