Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has confirmed that former
governors in the yet-to-be inaugurated Ninth National Assembly have
endorsed Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan and House of Representatives Leader
for Senate President and House Speaker respectively.
Shettima made the confirmation while fielding questions from reporters in N’Djamena, Chad, at the weekend.
Besides, the governor informed that the three senators-elect and
House of Representatives members-elect from Borno State have endorsed
Lawan and Gbajabiamila for the exalted offices.
He, therefore, dismissed the insinuation in some quarters that
former governors in the National Assembly were against the election of
Lawan and Gbajabiamila as leaders of the two chambers of the national
assembly.
According to Shettima, supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s
programmes and political decisions remained the only for the APC
governors to show appreciation to the President.
He said: “All our governors, including those coming to the
senate are 100 per cent in support of our party’s stance as far as
election of new leadership for the national assembly is concerned.
“As far as Borno is concern, we are in alignment with the
aspirations of Mr. President and that of our party. “Whoever the party
endorses for any position, we will solely stand behind such a person
because party discipline is absolutely essential for the sustainability
of our democratic experiment.
“If everyone is to vote according to his own free will surely
that would be a recipe for disaster or confusion. So, we have to align
ourselves with the aspirations of the president.”
The governor, who was part of Buhari’s entourage to meeting of
member nations of the the Community of Sahel – Saharan States (CEN SAD)
in N’Djamena, expressed the hope that the body would come out with
lasting solutions to the challenges of insecurity in the affected areas.
Commending Buhari for his role in promoting peace and stability in
the region, the governor enjoined member nations of the CEN SAD to
intensify efforts in addressing the problems of terrorism and banditry
along the Lake Chad basin and beyond.
