2023: Kashim Shettima’s BIG steps in mending fences, saves APC in Southern Borno

2023: Kashim Shettima’s BIG steps in mending fences, saves APC in Southern Borno

By: James Bwala

APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima has begun the unity move and back to one fold from the home front when he wins back the southern Borno Chief political foot soldier, Hon. Aliyu Mamman Kachallah aka Opanka. The former House of Assembly member and crowd puller left the party to join the opposition PDP after a political brush with the Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. The feud was over his bid for the Borno state House of Assembly ticket.

Hon. Mamman Kachallah would have become a stumbling block for the ruling APC in the buildup for the general elections in southern Borno. He was known to have a big political bite and his move has changed the political stirs in Biu by painting the street red with PDP flags following his rooting for the opposition.

Many had described Opanka’s move as a bad sign as those who understand the politics of southern Borno especially in Biu know that the people do not mince words when it comes to their interest.

However, Kashim Shettima has always been a sweet talker and is fat on his negotiation skills. He has mastered the act with the ability to win both the devil and the Saint in political calculations. Opanka falls in one of the sides and the root if allowed to grow before 2023 general elections would have been disastrous. He is one of Hon. Betara Aliyu’s strong gatekeepers and a strong holder of position among the frontline foot soldiers.

Also Read: Kashim Shettima: From the steps of the Senate to power

When Hon. Kachallah felt abused by the actions of the Borno state governor towards his ambition to return to the Borno state House of Assembly, he turned out all political foot soldiers in the Federal constituency against the move to support Zulum in the Betara’s stronghold. Many described the situation as a disaster waiting to happen. According to reports, they would do Betara and APC at the National level but vowed to deliver the block votes of the southern Borno to opposition PDP during both the gubernatorial and Senatorial elections in the zone.

The sins of APC were simply the denial to play by the rules during the Primaries in southern Borno. Despite inaugurating the committee on reconciliation, the southern Borno Senatorial District appeared to be a brick wall for no negotiations. However, with the move by Kashim Shettima, who took time to intervene in the matter, it seemed the coast was clear for the APC to March forward in southern Borno. The young men who are doing the jobs of moving to the left or moving the right were seen calling on one another to move to the right following the ‘Camp Shettima’s ‘ move lifting Opanka’s hand high indicating victory for APC over a successful negotiation.

Winning the home front, makes Shettima’s footprint thick in the ongoing business to mend fences with those aggrieved members of the All Progressive Congress to progressive to the upper level. It is believed that other negotiations will go concurrently and pricelessly with Kashim Shettima doing the magic. The big surprise coming to Nigerians may perhaps be the winning back of NNPP Presidential candidate and former Kano state governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. If that happens, APC will be on the top board before noon on Election Day.

The smooth move and gaining grounds across the north shortly after the unveiling of Kashim Shettima promises a good outing for the APC. It appears that in most states especially in the northeast, the move is becoming clearer that the people are announcing where the block votes are already tilting. The Tinubu/Shettima’s flags are taking the streets and the usual voices of victory have been echoing from the rooftops. As the fences are being mended from the home front, the rest of the country will soon witness the overflowing rivers of the songs of victory.

2023: Kashim Shettima’s BIG steps in mending fences, saves APC in Southern Borno