Group asks Shettima to ‘come out clean’ on unrest in Borno

Some stakeholders in Borno state have called on Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, to come out clean on what he knows about the unrest in the state.

The Borno Stakeholders Foundation, a group of members from the three senatorial zones in Borno, made this call on Tuesday.

The stakeholders were reacting to a recent statement credited to Kashim during an extraordinary security meeting to discuss the state of insecurity in Borno.

Shettima Adamu, national president of the group, who made this observation in a widely circulated press statement on Tuesday.

She said Shettima has refused to make life meaningful for the people of the state, despite the availability of resources at his disposal.

“For instance, the issues of unemployment have consistently remained on a high, thereby giving the hungry youths more and more reasons to pitch the tent with the Boko Haram group,” he said.

“The governor also failed to admit that his government has not deemed it fit to provide the much needed necessary infrastructure in the communities that were liberated from the Boko Haram strongholds.

“While it is understandable to members of the unsuspecting public to believe hook, line and sinker, the narrative of the governor, the Borno Stakeholders Foundation rebuffs and challenges Governor Shettima Kashim to have the courage to tell the people of the state how, he alongside the political elites have been of disservice to the people.

“Given the stated facts, the Borno Stakeholders Foundation wishes to call to order the actions of Governor Shetima Kashim which could be best described as the “Voice of Jacob and the Hands of Esau” as there is more than meets the eyes in the various security threats currently experienced in Borno state.

“The Borno Stakeholders Foundation has over time advocated for transparency and accountability in governance in Borno state, given the resources at its disposal, it should in the least be able to provide for its citizens especially in the areas of necessities of life.

“The Borno Stakeholders Foundation, as critical stakeholders in Borno State wishes to state empathically that Governor Shetima Kashim has not done enough for the people of Borno state as regards containing the threats posed by the Boko Haram terrorists because it is unthinkable for a supposedly elected governor to ignore security advice and also misrepresent facts in public domain all in the name of politics.”