Shettima: Those tipping Okorocha and me for 2019 election are wicked

Kashim Shettima, Borno state governor, says those behind the campaign posters for 2019 presidential race  – bearing his picture and that of Rochas Okorocha,  his Imo state counterpart – are wicked.

In a petition to Solomon Arase, inspector-general of police (IGP), Shettima said while he was not worried about the objective of those behind the scheme, he believed that sponsors of the “project” were plotting to undermine the “current cohesion” between the Borno state government and President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

The petition dated: May 29,  had reference number BOSLO/ABJ/14/IV/407, and was signed by Ahmed Sanda, permanent secretary in charge of the Borno government house and security.

Below is the petition:

I have been directed by His Excellency, the executive governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima to bring to the IGP’s notice, dozens of fraudulently produced posters bearing his name and picture claiming he is aspiring for the 2019 Presidency. The posters have been pasted on some routes in Abuja and Kaduna. 

Governor Kashim Shettima regards this development as a highly mischievous plot that is aimed at destabilising the emerging peace in Borno state through creation of unnecessary political tension while on the other hand it might aim at creating gap between the Borno state government and the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration (which just marked its first year in office) with a wicked agenda of undermining the current cohesion between the two arms of government working together in the last one year for the collective goal of ending the Boko Haram insurgency. 

From different information we have gathered, the posters are suspected to be the handiwork of a particular group of politicians trying to set the Borno state government and the APC in the state against the national headquarters of the APC and the federal government so as to lay a ground for a plan by the group of politicians to join the APC in Borno state and hijack the party’s machinery. 

His Excellency, Governor Kashim Shettima has directed me to most respectfully request the following:

1. The inspector-general of police authorises an immediate investigation to establish the source of the posters and the purpose for which the plot is meant with appropriate steps taken to arrest and prosecute those behind the posters under relevant provisions of the law.  
2. Any person at all seen pasting the posters in whatever form and on any place in all parts of Nigeria, be it private or public, should be arrested and prosecuted by the Nigeria police force for impersonation and attempts to undermine public peace and other provisions of law.  

Governor Kashim Shettima finds these posters embarrassing and assures the inspector-general of police that whoever is seen pasting any of them anywhere does so without his prior knowledge and approval. 

The Governor is of the strong opinion that what is needed in the country now is for all Nigerians and tiers of government, particularly the Borno state government, to support and work with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in a clearly determined effort to restore peace in Borno state.

Governor Shettima feels Nigeria neither needs nor deserves ridiculous and immoral campaign and its associated distractions for 2019 elections when the sitting president has just marked his first year in office managing serious challenges inherited from the previous administration.