The President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama says he is attracted to the qualities in Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima whom he described as being broad and fair to adherents of all religious groups.
Kaigama stated this in Maiduguri when he led bishops on a courtesy call to Shettima. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference was on empathy visit to Borno to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Maiduguri Catholic Diocese (1966 to 2016).
Kaigama said, “I have met Governor Shettima at different fora, and I must say I have been very much attracted to his personality. He is a leader whose vision is broad and whose hands are large enough to embrace everybody. I told His Eminence, the Cardinal that in some places we go, we have to wait for two hours or three to meet some government personalities but in Borno State, the governor was the one receiving us and bringing us in.”
He said despite all the negative stories about terrorist attacks and so on, “there are determined people on ground who have a capable leader in the person of the governor determined to forge ahead.”
Earlier, the Archbishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Bishop Oliver Dashe had in his introductory comments, spoken of how Governor Shettima had been rebuilding churches destroyed by Boko Haram, supporting activities of Christian bodies for all denominations and being fair to Christians in the affairs of government.
Governor Shettima thanked the archbishops for standing by the people of Borno State through thick and thin. He said that as a leader, he had obligation to be fair to everyone living in the state.