Linking Shettima to Boko Haram is a mistake, says Shehu Sani

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Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has responded to claims made on social media that Kashim Shettima is affiliated with Boko Haram.

Such a deed, according to him, is mischief.

Reports of Senator Kashim Shettima’s prior interactions with Boko Haram terrorists have surfaced since he was announced as Bola Ahmed Bola’s running mate for the presidency in 2023.

When Shettima was the governor of Borno state, reports from Premium Times detailing the arrest of Boko Haram leader Kabiru Sokoto at the governor’s lodge went viral.

Reacting in a statement on Monday, Sani said: “Those who are aggrieved over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling party have the constitutional right to express their objections.

“However, the remarks that trailed the ticket, including insinuations and allegations linking Shettima to the formation, growth and deadly destruction by the Boko Haram group is condemnable and mischievous.

Sani, who was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kaduna State, said though, he’s not a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he witnessed the effort of Shettima at addressing insurgency when he governed Borno State.

“Shettima as the Governor of Borno State invested time, energy and the resources of Borno State in combating, containing and curtailing the activities of the terrorist group.

“Shetima has no hand in the abduction of the Chibok girls. He has done more than anyone in contributing and supporting the operations of the Army and other security agencies in protecting the people of Borno state and by extension Nigeria.

“As a stakeholder and former Chairman Senate Committee on the Humanitarian Crisis in the North East, I’m privy to the fact that Shettima attracted massive presence and intervention of international NGOs and donor countries to the humanitarian situation in Borno.

“I’m not a member of the ruling party, but the truth is that other than issues of religion, he is better qualified in terms of competence than many who were paraded.

“Religion is a sensitive matter in Nigeria; other than that, Nigeria’s most important challenge is security, Shetima’s experience can be useful and is very much needed.”