Boko Haram: Shettima’s remarks taken out of context - Senator

Remarks made by Governor Kashim Shettima at a special town hall meeting in Maiduguri, which actually aimed to show Nigeria’s unity as inherent in the military, were taken out of context, Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has said.

Kyari, representing Borno North at the Senate was referring to media reports, which quoted PR Nigeria, saying that some senior security chiefs from Northern Nigeria were outraged when Governor Shettima purportedly said that Generals from southern Nigeria had recorded more progress in fighting Boko Haram than northerners.

The senator, who attended the meeting, said it was inconceivable to assume Governor Shettima would disparage northern Generals at a public function in the presence of retired and serving Generals from Northern Nigeria who includes the Minister of Defence, his counterpart in the interior, as well as other senior military officials from the north.

“Contrary to the distortion, Governor Kashim Shettima actually paid glowing tribute to the entire components of the Nigerian military and other security agencies for their sacrifices in the fight against Boko Haram in Borno State. The governor went on to highlight the unity that is inherent in the patriotism of the military.

“This is the context everyone understood it. as It was therefore surprising to see last night’s presentation of an entirely different context. The military, from the service chiefs to all the commanders that have served in Borno, be they from the north or south, have regularly attested to Governor Shettima’s unquestionable support for the military heads and the soldiers on the ground,” the senator said.