By Yushau A. Shuaib

Senator Kashim Shettima, a charismatic and eloquent politician, demonstrated exceptional leadership by proactively spearheading the Bola Tinubu presidential campaign, even before the aspirant’s official declaration.

At the time, some long-time loyalists of Bola Tinubu, including those he had appointed to offices during his governorship of Lagos (1999-2007), those he had influenced their appointments in strategic positions (2007-2015) and those he had endorsed for top public offices during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari (2015-2023), were opposed to the Jagaban’s aspiration.

Undeterred, Shettima, a skilled political strategist, championed Tinubu’s brand, defying the presidency’s body language and the APC leadership’s political machinations.

Shettima’s journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication and resilience in pursuing his beliefs. From his humble beginnings as an Agricultural Economist, earning his BSc and MSc from reputable Nigerian universities to his transition from academia to banking and eventually politics in 2007, his path is a shining example of inspiration and recognition.

During his tenure as Commissioner under Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Shettima oversaw various portfolios, including Finance, Education, Agriculture, Health, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Significant achievements marked his leadership as Governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019.

His commendable efforts in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, such as establishing and funding the Civilian JTF, a youth volunteer group supporting the military in counter-terrorism efforts, are a testament to his capabilities. His peace-building initiatives included rehabilitating victims of terrorism, remodelling schools, and building new boarding primary and junior secondary schools to accommodate over 50,000 unaccompanied orphans whose parents were killed by insurgents across the state’s 27 local government areas. As Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, he was pivotal in promoting national unity and driving critical changes in the region.

As he sought a Senate seat at the close of his tenure in office, Shettima showcased selflessness and trust in his protg, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, who he groomed to succeed him as the Governor of Borno State in 2019. Both men emerged victorious in the election as a testament to their effective partnership. He resisted the temptation to micromanage or exert undue influence over his successor, instead allowing Zulum to lead independently. This exemplary relationship between a political godfather and a godson starkly contrasts the often contentious dynamics between governors and their successors, making it a shining example of harmonious transition and leadership.

During his time in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Shettima discreetly championed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidential aspirations before launching a robust and inclusive campaign in 2022. His efforts contrasted with the apparent apathy of many Northern politicians, governors, and cabinet members from the previous administration toward Tinubu.

The Senator passionately advocated for the North to reciprocate Tinubu’s instrumental role in actualising Muhammadu Buhari’s long-held presidential ambition, framing it as a moment of payback and political reciprocity.

One of the three governors of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) that merged with other parties to form the APC, Shettima repeatedly told his audience that Tinubu not only supported Buhari through thick and thin, he had also previously shelved his ambition to support two northern presidential aspirants former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu even when Northern elements were against both of them. His repeated political catchphrase, targeted at the conservative Northern elites, was: “We are people of honour; we should honour our pledge and promise. This is payback time for the north to support Tinubu.”

He pointedly stated that Buhari’s popularity in the North was not enough to secure the presidency until he was repackaged, rebranded and resold by Tinubu to Nigerians, especially in the South-West in 2015.

His relentless campaign and pivotal role influenced Northern politicians in his party to soft-pedal and embrace Tinubus campaign team.

After winning the convention, Tinubu nominated Shettima as his running mate, and they eventually won the election in 2023.

It’s intriguing, therefore, to note that after President Tinubu’s inauguration, the Shettima we now see in the Presidency, as the Vice President, is not like the ebullient person we knew. This stark contrast in his demeanour has left some of us deeply unsettled.

Since Tinubu’s government was inaugurated in May 2023, the vibrant and outspoken Shettima seems to have become a shadow of himself. Unlike previous holders of the same office, his current position as Vice President seems less defined. Some agencies that should be under his supervision have been merged with other ministries that relate directly to the President, raising questions about his current influence and responsibilities.

Despite this, Shettima has earned a reputation for exceptional leadership and hospitality towards people of all faiths and ethnicities. He is the most detribalised public officer in Tinubu’s government, with at least 70 per cent of his aides from diverse backgrounds. A Kanuri man, he exemplified the same inclusive leadership while he was Governor by assembling a diverse team that reflected his values, consisting of individuals from various tribes and faiths, including Hausas, Fulanis, Igbos, Yorubas, Muslims, and non-Muslims, among others.

However, while some ministers are becoming more powerful and influential, it’s disheartening that Shettima could not do much for his people. For instance, he could not defend a renowned incorruptible female Chartered Accountant and a sister from his state, who was unjustly and prematurely retired from a senior position in an agency he supposedly supervised as the Vice President.

There are widespread speculations that a kitchen cabinet of Yoruba from the Lagos axis is running the affairs of the government and that they are responsible for the routine assignments passed to Shettima, such as attending to condolences and other inconsequential visitations.

While Shettima remains loyal to the President, Tinubu should be mindful that some of his major supporters before his inauguration are now bitterly disenchanted, including some retired military generals, former governors, and party chiefs. Many others need to be persuaded and wooed back into the political fold, not because of the ongoing alliance building up between former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Peter Obi, and other dark horses across the political parties towards 2027, but because it is the right thing to do.

The President should also endeavour to erase the impression of the YorubanisationandLagosationof his government. Some claim that once you can speak Yoruba, especially with Lagosian accents, you will be sure of getting the right connection with this government.

The Presidency needs to painstakingly evaluate its performance in office in the last one year and make serious amends where necessary, especially regarding its relationships with critical political and government stakeholders.

Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of Award-Winning Crisis Communication Strategiesyashuaib@yashuaib.com

The post Tinubu’s Presidency: Where is Senator Shettima? appeared first on YAShuaib.

Every time I have reason to travel to Maiduguri for an assignment, my family members become prayer warriors, and clarifications are sought around my dreams at such periods to check for what might be portents, while safety measures are devised against any possible untoward development.

As the birthplace of Boko Haram, Borno State is mostly associated with media tales of abandoned orphans, homeless widows, suffering internally displaced persons (IDPs), heartless suicide bombers and brutal terrorists etc.

Since my itinerary in the State usually revolves around humanitarian engagements, adequate security is routinely provided throughout my stay by the respective federal agencies that are my hosts.

Professor Zulum and Senator Kashim Shettima

In all the tours, I never paid much attention to the programmes and activities of the Borno State government. Like the proverbial bandwagon effect, I occasionally joined others in expressing deep resentments against State officials, traditional institutions and the political elite for doing little to curtail the excesses of the terrorists rampaging across the State.

Attempts by Isa Gusau, the spokesperson to Governor Kashim Shettima to convince some cynics like me with images and videos of positive strides being made in the State frequently met brick walls because we generally have a feeling that with technology, anything can be manipulated.

Therefore, when I received an invitation for a media tour of the State a few days to the commencement of the Ramadan fasting, I accepted the offer, even as I didn’t have any nightmare at the period that required dream interpreters. As usual, my prayer warriors conducted a special prayer for my safety on this more recent trip to Maiduguri.

I was delighted to meet some renowned newspaper columnists on the tour, including Mallam Mahmud Jega of Daily Trust, Mike Awoyinfa of The Sun, Sam Omatseye of The Nation and Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint, among others.

Borno Boarding Primary School

Rather than being escorted and protected by fully armed bodyguards in armoured vehicles, we were received by Governor Shettima, who personally drove the lead car for the media tour of various projects and facilities in the State, without the use of sirens. A few state officials also accompanied us on the tour.

The first ports of call were the state-of-the-art primary schools newly built by the Borno State government, where the Commissioner of Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo took us round air-conditioned classrooms. The beautiful furniture there were locally produced in Maiduguri, even if the digitalised teaching boards and modern gadgets were unavoidably imported. The schools have fine libraries, expansive dining halls and roomy dormitories. I pinched my cheeks harder to reassure myself I wasn’t daydreaming in fantasy when we entered a spacious Disneyland-like playground.

Borno Secondary School

We also inspected mega secondary schools with exquisite boarding facilities, infrastructure and sports arena. The newly constructed Borno State University is another world on its own, which is better than most newly established universities in terms of space, its physical ambience and buildings, and a conducive learning environment. The campus is slated to commence operation soon with the recent engagement of its principal officers.

Again, Shettima, who is equally the Senator-elect for Borno Central, led us to the newly established Industrial Park on the outskirt of Maiduguri, where the manager of the facility, Engineer Ibrahim Ali, informed us about the 16 tightly knit plants there, which have machinery for solar panel production, with the capacity to generate 120 megawatts of electricity. There are also plants in the Park for crop dehydration, and the production of PVC pipes, canopy-yarn, laminated sacks, plastic mats, school desks and chairs.

Borno Solar Panel Production Plant

In our presence, plastic tables and chairs were produced, some of which I sat on with the fullness of my weight in order to test their strength, and quite impressively they were as solid as the rock of Gibraltar.

In the Industrial Park, there are also plants for processing cassava and tomato, biscuit making, and the extraction of assorted juice, among other plants whose raw materials are produced locally in the State. In fact, there is a plastic-roofed greenhouse near the park where two types of tomatoes are farmed. There, I plucked and munched on some of the ripe tomatoes to ensure they were not plastic ones.

Borno Primary School with locally produced furniture

We were all amazed at the immense scale and beauty of the residential estates built by Governor Shettima. Most of the buildings are duplex apartments, flats, and bungalows. One may not likely have the fear of Boko Haram, If only one could be able to live in any of the glamorous estates in the serene environment!

While thrilled at the amazing discoveries, we could hardly feel the intensity of the over 40 degree Celsius sun, when the Governor swiveled his saloon car towards to the Borno Specialist Hospital. There, we were received by the State Health Commissioner, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura, who conducted us round the medical facility that offers the latest in high-tech medical care and advanced imaging services, such as latest mammogram, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and echocardiogram equipment for the early detection of cancer in the human body.

Borno Medical Facility

There are also sophisticated Computer Tomography (CT) scanners that features “intraoperative teleconferencing technology”. Some of the new equipment in the facility are rare or very few in the West African region. The multi-disciplinary medical services on offer at the Borno Specialist Hospital, which feature cutting-edge tools that are fully digital and Internet-enabled, are designed to manage the data of patients electronically, in a completely paperless manner.

The hospital’s ultramodern kidney dialysis centre has the capacity to handle more than 40 patients, while the Intensive Care Unit and the theatre are fitted with facilities for neurosurgery and other advanced procedures from General Electric (GE), including the 4D ultrasound (Voluson E10) scanning machine for finer clinical details and diagnosis.

Borno Hospital Ward

While I didn’t pray to fall sick during the visit, yet I felt like I could be very easily diagnosed and treated in this five-star, technologically advanced medical facility in Maiduguri for any future ailment or sickness. It is simply so cozy and soothing as a place of medical care.

I wondered how contractors, engineers, technicians, suppliers and other labourers were able to successfully deliver on the projects in the State considering the existence of Boko Haram terrorists and political insurgents in contiguous area, who could have wreaked havoc on them to make a strong statement?

After over six hours of tours, Governor Shettima led us to the Government House for a dinner with the incoming governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.

Borno Housing Estate

When I was asked to speak on behalf of the senior media practitioners present, I commended the governor for personally taking us round on the inspection tour of the beautiful structures and highly sophisticated facilities his administration had remarkably put together without any armed bodyguard or the use of sirens. I nevertheless expressed my fear about the management of the huge projects, both in terms of their maintenance and the quality of personnel to be hired to man them. I then asked: “Would these projects boost the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the State?”

Governor Shettima’s response was apt. He said: “My tenure will expire in about a month… What gives me so much joy is that the structure, infrastructure and the facilities we put in place will be adequately maintained and improved upon, because we are privileged to have Professor Babagana Umara Zulum as my successor. And this is because he has demonstrated a consistent passion for our dearest Borno.

“Professor Zulum is head and shoulder above me in intellect, competence, compassion, and integrity. He has demonstrated those qualities, especially with his tremendous sacrifice and the risk he took as the Commissioner of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation in addressing the plight of the distressed and displaced people in the State.”

Borno Nursery School

Governor Kashim Shettima, a humble person, is quite an erudite intellectual with brilliant and remarkable ideas on governance, politics, and social development. His outstanding legacies in revolutionising the key sectors in Borno State, despite a debilitating insurgency, shall remain indelible in the minds of the people, and in history.

After the dinner, I couldn’t help but contemplate what could be the nature of the future relationship between the outgoing and incoming administrations in the State. That is, beyond their apparently pleasant rapport at this time, would the mutually supportive relationship between Senator-elect Shettima and Professor Zulum endure after their different inaugurations or take a frosty turn like the known cases of the Kwankwaso-Ganduje saga and the Tinubu-Ambode imbroglio? Or the Orji Kalu-Theodore Orji clash, the Goje-Dankwambo rivalry, the Attah-Akpabio conflict or even the Akume-Suswan fiasco, among other similar incidents between political godfathers and their godsons?

Someone tells me that theirs will be a perfect example of non-interference but mutual encouragement in their respective constitutional mandates. I fervently pray that this is so.

Yushau A. Shuaib
Author ‘An Encounter with the Spymaster’
Publisher, PRNigeria
www.YAShuaib.com

The post PHOTOS: Amazing Discoveries Within Boko Haram’s Birthplace appeared first on YAShuaib.