2019: Borno Assembly endorses Shettima for Senate

In a unanimous decision, all the 28 members in the Borno State House of Assembly have asked Governor Kashim Shettima to vie for the Senate next year as he completes his eight years tenure as governor.

The legislators elected under the platform of the APC said Governor Shettima should move to the Senate so that the people of Borno would not lose the quality of his knowledge and experiences, the Speaker of the Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan has said.

Lawan made the revelation yesterday in the presence of some members of the Borno Assembly when a political coalition, Kashim Shettima Youth Mobilization (KSYM), led by an APC chieftain, Al-Amin Mustapha Alkali hosted the Speaker and members to a political forum which took place at Nanne and Boi Suites in Maiduguri.

No fewer than 500 members of the coalition, representing other groups attended the forum.

Three members of the State Assembly representing Monguno, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere state constituencies attended the forum.

The Speaker of the State Assembly was represented by Maina Mustapha Garba, the member representing Monguno.

The youth had told the members that they wanted them to deliver a request to Governor Shettima to declare for Borno Central Senatorial contest within 45 days, saying thousands of other Youths had already taken a position that not having Shettima in the Senate will be a waste of quality representation for Borno.

The coalition also said its members had raised money to use in buying form for expression of interest which they will present to the governor whether he accepts to contest or not. The youths also promised to reach out to all political associates of the governor to mobilise resources for his campaign offices and other activities.

“The youths are not alone in their resolve because all the 28 members in a full APC house want Governor Kashim Shettima to go to the Senate come 2019; there is no going back on the position,” the speaker said.

The Speaker promised to convey the youths’ request but assured them that it was not a question of asking the governor but working for it.

“Governor Shettima doesn’t reserve the right to refuse the request from the people of the state in choosing him to represent them at the Senate. It is a clarion call that he must accept,” he said.