Group asks Shettima to go to Senate

The North East Academics Support Group for Buhari/Osinbajo (NEASGBO), yesterday, called on the governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, to rescind his earlier decision not to contest for any elective office in the 2019 general elections in the overall political interest of the North East and his state in particular.

In a statement in Maiduguri, yesterday, the chairman of the group, Dr Mohammed Gujbawu, said the call became necessary in view of Shettima’s outstanding performance as governor, including the exemplary way he stood by his people in their trying moments.

Dr Gujbawu, a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri and a former APC State Publicity Secretary, said although it was Shettima’s absolute right to make personal or political decisions, “We, the members of this exalted organization, view with fervent concern the rather sad decision by the governor to say goodbye to partisan politics, especially at a time when truly experienced and tested representatives of the people are hard to come by.

“In view of this, we fervently appeal to his excellency to rescind this decision without further delay and specifically declare interest to contest for the senatorial seat of Borno Central in the 2019 elections.

“His lack of interest has already set in a lull in Borno’s political landscape. Only his declaration of interest to participate in the 2019 elections could douse such lulls,” the statement said.