The Kashim Shettima I know

By Yunisa Audu

The former Governor of Borno State, present Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and running mate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general elections, Senator KashimShettima is a leader without Political Lethargy.

Born on 2nd September, 1966 in Maiduguri, Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima Mustapha is an astute Banker who served meritoriously in the Banking Sector in Nigeria for several years before joining Politics.

Previously, KashimShettima was the Executive Governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019 and later became Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the election seat he occupies till date.

Senator Kashim Shettima, a product of University of Maiduguri where he earned BSc in Agriculture and later earned MSc Agricultural Economics at the foremost University in Nigeria –University of Ibadan in Oyo State.

While in the Banking Sector, Senator KashimShettima was proficient and diligent which eventually earned him several high ranking Executive Positions. He was a General Manager of Zenith Bank in Maiduguri Office before joining the Borno State cabinet of the former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff in year 2007.

Senator Kashim Shettima served the State Cabinet for Four years before being elected Governor of Borno State in 2011 and re-elected in 2015 with a landslide victory due to his excellent performance in the first tenure.

Despite the tumultuous experience caused by the Boko Haram insurgency during the period, Senator Kashim Shettima performed excellently well as the Governor of the State which eventually earned him unimpeachable victory at the Senatorial election held in 2019, the position he holds today.

To say the least, Senator Kashim Shettima was re-nominated for the 2023 Senatorial election but he withdrew the nomination to serve as running mate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the All Progressives Congress(APC) Presidential Candidate.

The Kashim Shettima I know has always excelled in all spheres as he resolves to serve God and Humanity. While we were together as students in those days in Universities of Maiduguri and Ibadan respectively, he used to preach love and peace to the younger school mates that they should embrace love irrespective of creed, religion or tribe.

One memorable thing you cannot take away from Senator Kashim Shettima till date, “giving to the needy” which has always earned him fruits of prosperity, wellness, contentment and happiness in life.

Senator Kashim Shettima can best be described as a leader of unalloyed character and impeccable frankness especially in dealing with all and sundry. He is taciturn and a reservoir of intellect and unblemished wisdom coupled with knowledge of our time.

No wonder, on 3rd September, 2021, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, in a statement said that he was proud of the achievements of Senator Kashim Shettima as the former state Governor of Borno State.

During the eight years of Senator Kashim Shettima as Governor of Borno State, he was able to establish 16 new secondary schools; he renovated more than 50% of over 80 secondary schools and built more than 44 Mega Primary Schools of international standard.

Senator Kashim Shettima is an enigma who can lead aggressive campaign for the support of All Progressives Congress within the nooks and crannies of this country and outside.

A man of his word and an action leader who does not believe in failure in whatever step he takes, no doubt, he always achieves without sentiment.

On security matters, Senator Kashim Shettima believes that government must support the security Agencies with funding and other logistics support to enable them work effectively and efficiently so as to make them decimate the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups to the minimum.

This he believe is the only way to restore normalcy not only in North East but Nigeria as a whole.

During his eight years as Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima took this herculean task by introducing Civilian- JTF that worked assiduously to curb the heinous acts of Boko Haram and other related menaces in the state.

Senator Kashim Shettima created a lot of jobs for the youths during the period under initiatives and capacity building targeted at taking the youths out to the streets by providing jobs and empowering the masses.

Hundreds of young men and women were engaged as street cleaners on the auspices of Borno State Environmental Protection Agency.

Under infrastructural development, Senator Kashim Shettima completed the popular Lagos street road which he commissioned during his first tenure in 2011. The development eased the unending traffic gridlock along the route leading to the University of Maiduguri and Teaching Hospital.

In spite of harrowing insurgency ravaging Borno State, one of the achievements of Senator Kashim Shettima during the eight years in government house was reconstruction of towns and villages in Bama, Gwoza, Askira Uba and Gamboru-Ngala.

During the eight years of Kashim Shettima as Governor of Borno State, an housing Estate named after late Deputy Governor of Borno State Zamah Mustapha, was completed within two years.

The State Government was able to commission multi-billion Naira Storey buildings along Kano-Maiduguri road for the targeted beneficiaries.

The Economic fortune of the State was dwindling due to insurgency which did not attract investors to the state.

Shettima’s government faced the challenges squarely with a view to improving the well-being of the citizens through economic and social development by reducing hunger and lack of sustenance orchestrated by Boko Haram insurgency.

Education was also given priority during the period. Being an erudite and quintessential leader, Shettima disparaged the education situation and took immediate step to ensure that schools were re-opened.

From the foregoing, no doubt, Senator Kashim Shettima is a great, patriotic, detribalized and hardworking Nigerian who will always remain an exemplary and selfless leader of our generation and beyond.

The combination of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima as Presidential Candidate and running mate respectively in 2023 general elections under the All Progressives Congress will show a leadership in the right direction which will lead Nigeria and her citizens to the desired promised land.

Yunisa Audu can be reached via [email protected]