Nine Candidates Step down for Shettima in Borno

Nine gubernatorial candidates in Borno State have stepped down for the re-election bid of the incumbent state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

The candidates announced their intention shortly after coming out from a meeting with the governor at the Government House in Maiduguri yesterday.

According to them, the decision was taken after a careful assessment of the situation in the state and their admittance that the incumbent governor had performed creditable well in the management of the state affairs.

One of the candidates who spoke on behalf of others, Rufai Monguno of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said: “There is no point changing a winning team. When we stepped up to answer the call of our teeming supporters to contest for the governorship position of our dear state, we had the welfare of our people and development of the state at heart. But we later realised that there is no need fighting over the seat when the incumbent governor has achieved all that we desired for the state.

“He has even better plans for the future of our beloved state. It was on that note that we came to the Government House to formally assure him that rather than contesting against him, we will mobilise all our supporters to ensure that he is returned as the next governor of the state on April 11. We hereby step down for him.”

The governor, apparently happy with the development, described their action as “an act of statesmanship worthy of commendation,” assuring them that his government would continue to strive for better deal for the people of the state.