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Tag: Gov. Kashim Shettima

  • Shettima orders APC stakeholders to mobilise vote for Buhari

    Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Monday ordered All Progressives Congress (APC), stakeholders in the state to return to their respective wards for the purpose of producing high number of votes for President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.
    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), report that the stakeholders include deputy, national and state assembly members, state, local government and ward executives of the party, all past and serving government officials as well as party chieftains.
    Shettima gave the order while swearing-in caretaker chairmen of the 27 local government areas for a term of six months at the government house in Maiduguri.
    Shettima said that he was  taking the Thursday’s primaries seriously regardless of whether the President has opponent or not.
    He said, “As principal beneficiaries of Buhari’s administration” the Borno APC intends to produce an impressive turn out of voters in the direct primaries to demonstrate gratitude to the Presidency for its dedication to the fight against Boko Haram since 2015.
    “Let me start by giving matching orders to all our 27 caretaker chairmen, that in addition to your constitutional duties of steering the affairs of your respective local government areas, your immediate assignment is to go back to your local government areas and effectively mobilise members of our party, the APC, to all come out en mass in their respective wards to fully take part in the Presidential direct primaries.
    “We all know that our cherished President, Muhammadu Buhari has no opponent in the APC ahead of the 2019 election.
    “However,  as principal beneficiaries of President Buhari’s regime, all of us in Borno State have obligations to line up and be counted for President Buhari’s candidature.
    “As leader of the APC, I will also go to my ward here in Maiduguri on Thursday and line up to be counted as delegate for the direct primaries. I expect all stakeholders to go back to their respective wards.
     “In areas that wards are not accessible, arrangements should be made for alternative venues so that Stakeholders  should lead party members to stand and be counted for President Buhari. I know most of us here have been doing some quiet mobilisation, it is time to do something different.
     “Of course, I should acknowledge that together, we have done the most important thing in encouraging hundreds of thousands of our people to obtain their PVCs.
    “However, before the main election, the APC in Borno State needs to make a bold statement by coming out in high number to demonstrate our loyalty and gratitude to President Buhari and to reaffirm the supremacy of APC in Borno State.
    “We need to handle the Presidential primaries with all the seriousness it deserves irrespective of whether the President is standing alone or not. We are on ground with our people and we need to prove this.
    “I will like to also request that during the Presidential direct primaries, all our members of party should display their PVCs to confirm their readiness for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.
    “As your leader, I will display my PVC like everyone, while I stand on the line during the direct primaries,”said Shettima.(NAN)

  • Sheriff, Shettima meet in Borno after years of political feud

    The former Governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff  on   Friday,  May 4, 2018 met with Gov. Kashim Shettima, his political son at  Borno Government House, Maiduguri amidst thousands of supporters.

    Sheriff’s meeting with Shettima has finally put to rest speculations of his defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC), a party he once held sway before moving to the PDP. The duo held meeting at the multi-purpose hall of the government house Maiduguri after the former governor was received by Gov Shettima at his official residence within the same vicinity.

    Our correspondent reports that the entire government house was saturated with Sherriff’s supporters, some of whom including the former governor have not touched the ground of the government house since 2011 after he handed over to Gov. Shettima.

    Details of the meeting were not readily available as pressmen were excused out of the meeting after the opening prayers.

    Our  correspondent however  learnt that the meeting of the duo  is to perfect and strengthen all grey areas of interests from the two camps  ahead of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC)   proposed stakeholders meeting slated  for Saturday culminating to the National convention of the party in June.

    Other reliable sources also informed that the meeting was centered on reconciliation, apologies and the lingering interim leadership tussles of the party and governorship candidate and other elective positions come 2019 which has attracted vested interest both from the camp of the incumbent Gov. Shettima and Sen Ali Modu Sheriff.

    While he was denied a heroic reception at the national secretariat more than a week ago, Sheriff had quietly returned to his ward where he rejoined the APC as advised along with thousands of his supporters from the opposition party, People Democratic Party, (PDP) two days ago at the Gamboru Ngala IDPs Camp Maiduguri from the APC party LGA executives.

    In his characteristic manner, Sheriff had earlier embarked on a money spraying spree through the streets of Maiduguri as his long convoy drove into the government house as people chats, in admiration “Yirne! Yirne! Yirne! In Kanuri language, meaning, spray! Spray! Spray!

    Read Also: Mass defection hits Delta PDP as Sheriff faction joins APC

     

  • Attack on Borno community sad, inhumane – Shettima

    Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Monday described the Boko Haram insurgents’ Sunday night attack on communities in Jere Local Government Area of the state as “sad and inhumane”.

    Shetiima told newsmen when he visited the over 80 victims of the attack on treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri that the attack indicated high level of atrocities committed by the insurgents.

    “It is very sad which no any sensible human being could inflict on another person; such level of dexterity, such level of atrocity but this is a  war between light and darkness, and in the fullness of time truth shall always triumph over falsehood.

    “We have repeatedly said they have been sufficiently decimated and these decimated monsters berks in the oxygen of publicity they are targeting soft targets, senselessly and criminally opening fire on innocent souls.

    “Yesterday, we witnessed that very sad episode, we will continue to intensify our efforts to safeguard life and property, and we are talking with security agencies that are doing their utmost best to secure the state.

    “Appreciable progress has been made but such hiccups are inevitable. I will visit the communities to see what measures need to be put in place to forestall future occurrence,” he said.

    Shettima assured that the state government would provide free treatment to the victims and provide necessary support during their period of recuperation.

    The governor also condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in the attack.

    Meanwhile, the Police in Borno had confirmed 20 persons killed and 84 others wounded in the attack.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Chukwu, disclosed that five mutilated corpses of male suicide bombers were recovered and two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) vests were diffused by men of the command at the scene of the attack.

    He said: “On 01/04/2018 at about 20:20 pm; Boko Haram terrorists in an attempt to infiltrate into Maiduguri through Bale Kura, Bale Shuwari, Jamine and Alkaramti villages in Jere local government area of the state, in the outskirts of Maiduguri detonated IEDs.

    “They were promptly repelled by military and police reinforcement. In the process about 84 persons were injured and 20 others killed.”

    Chukwu added that normalcy had been restored to the area and called on people to go about their lawful businesses. (NAN)

  • Gowon reiterates call for peace, unity in Nigeria

    Gowon reiterates call for peace, unity in Nigeria

    Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon has reiterated his call on Nigerians to pray for peace, unity and prosperity of the country.

    Gowon made the call on Saturday during a two-day National Prayer Rally organised under the aegis of Nigeria Prays, at the Government House, Maiduguri.

    He noted that such prayers were imperative to promote unity and harmonious coexistence as well as address the nagging social and economic problems bedeviling the country.

    He also admonished Nigerians to shun violence and acts capable of disrupting peace and stability in the country.

    The former head of state lauded the Federal and State Governments efforts to restore peace and address the humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast region.

    Gowon further commended the Borno Government over its rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement programs designed to provide decent residential homes, schools, clinics, religious places of worship and other public structures.

    He said: “the governor’s commitment to the restoration of peace is acknowledged by Nigerians. On behalf of Christian’s community, I commend you and associate with your achievements.’’

    In his remarks, Gov. Kashim Shettima said that the people of the state had demonstrated high level of religious tolerance and harmonious coexistence in view of its diverse cultures and beliefs.

    Shettima commended Gowon for his patriotism and selfless service to the unity and progress of the nation.

    “Gowon worked for Nigeria without enriching himself and making sure that the word of God remains his watch word in the unification of the country.

    “We are one people and must remain one; as leaders, we must work to make our people unite for the betterment of all,’’ he said.

    According to him, the state government has been providing relief materials to the people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency to assuage their sufferings.

  • Borno to empower 150 women in Chibok

    The Borno Government says it plans to empower 150 women in Chibok Local Government Area with Livelihood Support as part of its post-insurgency Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement programme.

    The State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Prof. Babagana Umara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

    Umara said that the women would be trained in poultry and fish farming to enable them to acquire means of livelihood.

    He said the beneficiaries would be supported with tools to set up their own businesses after the training.

    “We are going to empower 150 women from Chibok with means of livelihood.

    “One hundred of them will be trained in poultry, while 50 will be empowered to engage in fish farming,” he said.

    He said another set of 50 women will be empowered through the Fadama farming project.

    “We also want to empower 50 women in villages through the Fadama project.

    “But the task of selecting these women lies with the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Chibok Local Government,” Umara said.

    He said that government would also distribute foodstuff to members of the community as part of its relief to communities ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “By next week we shall distribute food items to members of the community to provide relief before the farming season,” Umara said.

    He said that government had also taken concrete steps toward addressing the problem of water supply in the area.

    “Gov. Kashim Shettima is very much concerned about the water problem in Chibok and he has directed that everything possible must be done to tackle the problem.

    “That is why we have sunk six boreholes in the area, we are in the process of reticulating the boreholes for maximum output,” Umara said.

    The commissioner expressed optimism that the project would be completed by the end of June.

    He also disclosed that the state government had purchased 30 heavy duty trucks for the construction of the Chibok-Nbalala road which he said, was in deplorable state.

    “Government has purchased 30 trucks to empower the State Road Maintenance Agency toward construction of the Chibok-Nbalala road, which is a federal road.

    “The agency has moved to site but lack of equipment has been the major obstacle,” he said.

    Umara said that with the acquisition of the trucks, the project would be completed within the year.

    He said that government was also constructing 60 houses for victims of insurgency in Chibok.

    “We have reached advanced stage in the construction of the 60 houses for victims of insurgency especially the vulnerable ones in Chibok.

    “We are hoping that donor agencies will come in to complement our efforts on these projects,” Umara said.

    NAN reports that 217 students of the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, were abducted on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents while writing their final year examination in the school.

  • Fall of Sambisa: Borno declares Dec. 22 public holiday

    Fall of Sambisa: Borno declares Dec. 22 public holiday

    The Borno Government has declared Dec. 22 of every year as Public Holiday to celebrate the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists by the Nigerian military.

    Gov.Kashim Shettima disclosed this at the opening of the 2017 Small Arms Championship in Sambisa forest in Borno on Monday.

    “The Borno Government will from this year begin to declare Dec. 22 as Sambisa Memorial Day.

    “This day will be marked as Public Holiday in Borno for the purpose of celebrating the strength and the victory of our Armed Forces,” Shettima said.

    He explained that the day would also be used for remembering victims of the Boko Haram terrorism and the families they had left behind.

    He said that the day would also be used to remember members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and volunteers who lost their lives in the fight against the insurgents.

    “The Borno government will do everything possible to ensure that the patriotism of our heroes is supremely preserved and not taken for granted,” the governor said.

    He congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the military for chasing away the Boko Haram terrorists from their Sambisa stronghold.

    “Based on Buhari’s announcement, the Sambisa forest became deceased or dead at about 1.35 p.m. on Dec.22, 2016.

    “Three months after its demise, today marks the official funeral of the Sambisa forest. I am proud to have witnessed this funeral and I congratulate all of us for being witnesses to the triumph of good over evil,” he said.

    Shettima said that the state government was also working on plans to set up a museum to be named Sambisa to document all materials related to the military fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa.

    “The fall of Sambisa is both symbolic and memorable and that is why as a government, we are taking steps to preserve the history behind the fall of Sambisa.

    “And to spectacularly document the roles played by everyone from the Commander-In Chief, our service commanders and soldiers.

    “Very soon, the state government will respectively request for partnership with the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Ministry of Information  to construct a museum that will be named Sambisa Fall and International Research Centre,” he said.

    Shettima said that the center would be used for the purpose of documenting all due classified information on the fight against Boko Haram.

    “The centre will also help to preserve valuable materials recovered by the military in relation to the fight against Boko Haram terrorists and to document history of the crisis from the days of Taliban to the Boko Haram terrorism.

    “Importantly, our aim is to document responses by successive political and military leadership and the eventual fall of Sambisa forest under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    ” We hope that such a museum will become a global custodian of information and valuable materials on issues relating to the Boko Haram and the role played by the Nigerian military and the multi national forces.

    “We will propose that the museum should have a hall of fame for fallen heroes which will bear names and pictures of notable officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “Also, the hall of fame will bear the names of the paramilitary, the Civilian JTF and the hunters who paid supreme price in helping to free us from Boko Haram terrorists,” the governor said.(NAN)

  • Boko Haram: Borno governor holds emergency security meeting

    Boko Haram: Borno governor holds emergency security meeting

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has held an emergency security meeting over the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in some parts of the state.

    Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to Gov. Shettima on Communication and Strategy in a statement said, the meeting was held behind closed door in attendance with all heads of security agencies in the state including Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police and the Department of State Security where proactive measures were taken on how to increase surveillance against Boko Haram attacks.

    The statement also disclosed that the meeting lasted for about three hours after the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Leo Irabor had briefed the governor on recent attacks and ongoing military operations, adding that discussions were also centred on wave of suicide attacks following the dismantling of Boko Haram stronghold in Sambisa Forest.

    Isa said the meeting was held for over three hours at the council chambers of the Government House, the meeting had in attendance ‎the G.O.C, Seven Division of the Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu; the Commander, 79 Composite group of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Charles Oho; the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, Damien Chukwu; the Garrison Commander, 7
    Division of the Army, Brigadier General Jibrin G. Mohammed; the State Director of the DSS, Suleiman Kankia; Commandant of the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi; the Secretary to the State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa, the attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan and the Permanent Secretary in charge of security.

    The statement said, “At the end of meeting, new guard locations were established in some routes across the State to curtail the movement of remnants of Boko Haram fighters; deployment of security personnel to various locations were increased with more members of Civilian JTF (youth volunteers involved) while the Governor gave approval for release of additional patrol vehicles to security agencies for increased surveillance.

    “ The Governor also approved logistics to compliment efforts of the federal government in strengthening armed forces while measures were adopted to strengthen the Civilian JTF and hunters. The meeting also reviewed synergy between formal armed forces and volunteers with steps adopted to increase collaboration and clamp down on cattle rustling used by insurgents to raise funds.
    ” The council deliberated on recent false information spread by mischief makers to cause disaffection between armed forces and volunteers particularly the Civilian JTF with the council warning mischief makers against destabilizing the emerging peace across the State,” the statement said.

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  • Boko Haram: Nigerian military to reopen key Borno road after 3 years

    Boko Haram: Nigerian military to reopen key Borno road after 3 years

    Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno said on Thursday that the Nigerian military is poised to re-open the Maiduguri-Magumeri-Gubio and Damasak roads.

    Shettima made this known when the Governor of Difa, Republic of Niger, Muhammad Dandano, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Maiduguri.

    The roads have remained closed to vehicular traffic since 2013 when Boko Haram activities in Borno were at their peak.

    He said the state government would commence reconstruction of Damasak in 2017 to enable inhabitants of the area to return to their homes.

    “Rebuilding Damasak is our priority.

    “The Borno Abadam, Mobar and Magumeri people are rich farmers; they do not need any help if you return them to their communities.

    “We commend the Republic of Niger for hosting about 90,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),” said Shettima.

    Speaking, Dandano said his country had continued to give its maximum support to victims of violence displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.

    Dandano said IDPs from Nigeria were at the moment living peacefully and going about their normal socio-economic activities in Difa.

    “We are giving the IDPs our maximum support as many of them have taken up farming and other ventures.

    “When you go there you will hardly differentiate between an IDP from Nigeria from a Nigerien.

    “We have also issued birth certificates to the children, who were born in Niger to enable them to have an identity,’’ said Dandano.

  • Gallant soldier: Abu-Ali’s death dominates Google trend

    Gallant soldier: Abu-Ali’s death dominates Google trend

    News about Nigeria’s gallant soldier, Lt. Col. Mohammed Abu-Ali, who died fighting Boko Haram terrorists, was top on Google search this week, a Google official said on Thursday.

    Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos.

    He said that the search was from November 16 to November 23.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that the Mannequin challenge which requires people to stay frozen while a video was being recorded also got people’s attention.

    According to him, Google search users were also agog over the news on the internet which went from Kanye West’s rant on stage, to the death of two members of the Nollywood community.

    “Earlier this month, a gallant Nigerian soldier, Abu-Ali lost his life in the battle to recapture some major towns in the North-East from the stronghold of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    “As a form of support to his widow, Gov. Kashim Shettima, of Borno, donated N10 Million to the family,’’ he said.

    He noted that Nollywood recently grieved over the loss of two of its members – the popular Yoruba actress, Kudirat Ajimat – and top producer cum director, Uduak Ansa Oguamanam.

    “Ajimat who is known for her motherly roles in Yoruba movies was buried immediately, according to Islamic rites.

    “Ansa, younger sister to the talented and award-winning film-maker, Emem Isong, was said to have died of complications from prolonged peptic ulcer,” he said.

    According to him, change your style was the new thing on block which caught attention online.

    “As the mannequin challenge becomes global, more Nigerians are engaging in the internet viral challenge which requires its participants to remain frozen, while a video is being recorded.

    “The phenomenon which began in Florida, U.S., has seen the likes of Etisalat, the Super Falcon, Dr Craze, MI, Falz, and LASEMA posting their versions of the challenge on the internet,” he said.

    Kola-Ogunlade added that earlier this week, WhatsApp official launch of its video call which required users to update their WhatsApp application got attention online.

    “Users can also enjoy the support by updating the feature on their Android or iPhone, or they can simply go to the App Store or Google Play for available updates,” he said.

    He stated that U.S. rapper, Kanye West, was hospitalised this week, and reports said he was immediately placed under observations.

    “The popular entertainer, who cancelled the last 21 dates of his national tour after abandoning a Sacremento performance, was reported to have been transported to the hospital in an ambulance, and placed in a psychiatric hold.

    “News went around that film-maker and Ebony TV boss, Seun Egbegbe, was accused of stealing nine iPhones at the popular Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos State,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.

    The Google manager said that Egbegbe explained that he left the shop with the phones to pick money from his jeep.

    The Google Trends launched in May 2006, allows one to see how popular search terms and its demography have been overtime on Google.

  • Army releases 275 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    Army releases 275 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    The army on Friday released 275 detainees after clearing them of being members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Hassan Umaru handed over the detainees to Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, at a ceremony in Maiduguri, the state capital..

    Umaru said the detainees included 271 Nigerians.

    Two of the released foreigners are from Cameroun and the other two from Niger Republic.

    Umaru said: “Today we are releasing 275 persons who have been in detention over suspicion of being involved in terrorism.

    “Our crack team of joint investigators has screened and cleared the persons that are in the process of being released here today.”

    Umaru said the detainees included 142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged and 50 children of cleared females.

    “The persons being released comprise 142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged, 50 children of cleared females, two Nigeriens and two Cameroonians,” the theatre commander said.

    He said they were released in line with the principles of justice and fair play.

    Receiving the detainees, Shettima commended the military for a job well done.

    He said: “Today bears a sense of professionalism, justice, equity and fairness of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “The 275 suspects were picked from several locations at different times and were adjudged to be clean after through investigations.”

    Shettima said the action had confirmed that the military was a respecter of the law.