To a compassionate and selfless governor, 50 hearty cheers

Today, Governor Kashim Shettima, a banker, an academic and politician, enters the jubilee age. He turns 50. He was born on September 2, 1966 to the family of Alhaji Shettima Kuttaiye, an Arabic teacher, farmer and businessman, and Hajia Nana Kujarima from the lineage of El-Kanemi dynasty. And ever since the news of his new age went round the state, it has been tributes galore in praise of the celebrant, who many residents described as the compassionate and selfless governor.
The torrents of tributes are, however, well-founded. Since assuming the leadership of Borno State in 2011, notwithstanding the enormity of challenges that have been thrown his way, Shettima has remained unfazed in ensuring that the challenges are surmounted with a view to giving the average resident a good life.
Asked in a press interview during his third year anniversary in office why he is reported to have admitted that he was an unhappy governor, he replied: “How can I be happy when citizens I am under oath to protect, are being killed. How can I be happy when, as we speak, over 200 daughters of Borno are being held somewhere and when hundreds of Borno sons and daughters are six feet under the ground? How can I be happy when as a governor, I am forced to close down schools and when hundreds have lost their homes and sources of livelihood? How can I be happy when we have spent over N10 billion that should have been used for developmental needs to resist man’s inhumanity, and yet we are still spending? How can I be happy when people were forced to close their shops, avoid markets, abandon schools, and stay away from their relations?
He went on: “How can I be happy when the economy of Borno is being grounded to a halt by our own people? There was one night, about one and half years ago, I was contemplating resigning. I was so frustrated that the insurgents were waxing strong.
“I was feeling helpless and I didn’t want Borno to collapse and surrender to insurgents under a regime that had me at the helm of affairs. But then, I thought that somebody has to be at the helms. If I am not there, someone has to be there. I asked myself, what was it that was to make me leave? Was it fear of death, fear of challenge or just trauma?
“I am a fanatic of motivational quotes. There was one by Meg Cabot that inspires me, which states that ‘courage is not the absence of fear. It is rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all’.
“That night, I then said to myself, wasn’t it better for a leader to die for a good cause than to abandon his own kinsmen and women to live for nothing at all and forever be remembered for abandoning his people? Since then, I made up my mind to confront whatever challenge there is before Borno State and work towards its recovery and progress. I have conquered the fear of challenge, but I live with the reality of the trauma our citizens’ face and that gives me immense headache.” Besides the insurgency imbroglio, Shettima has to contend with mounting political intrigues as a result of irreconcilable differences between him and his predecessor and godfather, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. To compound things, Shettima’s relationship with erstwhile Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was not cordial, as it was a dog and cat affair.
The understanding between the two became worse when Governor Shettima charged the Federal Government to be forthcoming with equipment and incentives to Nigerian troops if the insurgency war must be won. The FG at the time, apart from openly rebuking Shettima, did not take kindly to that statement and soldiers in Government House, Maiduguri were withdrawn and replaced with policemen.
With mountains of problems, Governor Shettima, with vision and resolve, went through the debris of catastrophe. Today, he has proved the pessimists wrong that Borno is a failed state waiting for the funeral. He has made Borno more stable, stronger and viable than he met it. He has given hope to the hopeless, through massive employment and introduction of various poverty alleviation programmes where over 500, 000 youths are beneficiaries.
Shettima has made agriculture the greatest employer of labour through diversification of its various sectors and giving incentives to thousands of farmers, especially the youths. He is rebuilding broken homes through rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement, and compensating victims of the insurgency. The educational institutions, which were burnt by the insurgents are being rebuilt while teachers’ and workers’ salaries are paid as and when due.
Today, 16 months into his second term tenure, the governor says, “I see the light, I see the hope and I perceive a greater Borno from grass to grace.”
In the struggle for redemption of Borno State from the clutches of Boko Haram insurgency, Shettima is indeed a dependable ally of the federal troops, halting the onslaught of the insurgency in the nooks and crannies of the state and beyond.
Shettima’s administration has demonstrated that leadership is about good and prompt response to official responsibility. From the initial disposition of despondency, his administration has gravitated to that of optimism and hope. Today, the people now know those who have used political power for good or evil, and for people’s happiness or oppressing them. Shettima has served his people faithfully and diligently and has brought happiness to many homes.
That Shettima was able to steer, successfully, the ship of the state in the troubled waters of Borno is not necessarily attributable to his intellectual ability, sagacity, oratory power or political manipulation. Rather, his humility, perseverance, tolerance, forgiving spirit and, above all, peaceful approach to issues, were the assets that endeared him to the people and disarmed his adversaries. This is his triumph and greatness.
According to President Muhammadu Buhari, “Governor Kashim Shettima has remained with the people, passing through all phases and doing very well in steering the affairs of the state at a challenging time. He never abandons his people for one day.”
In the words of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El- Kanemi, “Borno is lucky to have the right person that perfectly fits our challenging time. We are happy to have a very good, compassionate, highly committed and selfless son like Governor Shettima at the helm of affairs. He stands by his people and supports them while at the same time transforming all sectors of Borno State…”
Happy birthday our own dear Governor.