APC Chairmanship: ‘Why we are mobilizing support for Senator Kashim Shettima’ – Nigerian Youths

By: James Bwala, Maiduguri

Former governor of Borno state and Senator Representing Borno Central at the National Assembly, Senator Kashim Shettima may not have indicated interest in vying for the position of the APC National Chairmanship. But youths across party lines have joined the band wagon to mobilize support for the Senator while also making a clarion call for him to speak out. The youths who spoke to NEWSng said that they have neither read his lips or observed his body language to inform their call but that they have studied the political lines in the country where observation showed that the Borno strong man may be the right candidate for the position if he decided to answer the call to duty.

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Ahmed Ahmed, a politician in Yobe state observed that, the situation in the country today has presented a phase that requires a man with vision to champion the cause of the ruling party –The APC. According to him, ” With respect to late Chinua Achibe with the title of his novel: ‘ Things Fall Apart.’ He said, indeed things have fallen apart in the country both politically and administratively. And that Nigerians are now looking at governor’s, who had left better legacies as politicians and administrators to lead political parties especially the ruling party. 

According to him, “Looking at the background, Kashim Shettima appears to have possessed all the qualities. Without mincing words, I have personally observed that, most of the people in line have no qualifications to stair Nigeria out of the troubled waters as would Kashim Shettima if given the opportunity to lead APC in the coming months. I have joined thousands of supporters in making the clarion call. I also hope that he will yield as this is an opportunity to save the country from shipwreck.

Asked why he is joining hundreds of mobilizers to call on the former Borno state governor to join the race for the National Chairmanship of the ruling APC, Ahmed Ahmed said, “First, there is nothing to lose for Kashim Shettima. He is a serving Senator and one of the key Senators Nigeria is blessed with. Secondly, his activities as the people’s senator has differentiated him looking at the roles he took and his presentations at the floor of the senate, which score him for any job he wishes to take now or in the future. On a third count, I would like to observe that, putting all those seeking to lead the APC on a balanced scale, you would agree with me that Kashim Shettima has left a legacy, which is working in Borno state. I have been to Maiduguri several times as I have been to many states. I know where Kashim Shettima left as a governor and where Zulum continues. You are also a testimony to those facts. He said.

Also speaking to NEWSng on the leadership of the ruling APC, a member of the opposition party, PDP in Borno state, Alhaji Tijjani Umar said, his views are no different from thousands of people calling on former Borno state governor to make appearance like others seeking to help this country out of the woods.

“Although I am from the opposition, I know what is right for this country at this moment. Senator Kashim Shettima shares a vision for a better Nigeria. The APC administration has failed this country. In the north particularly, we have been caged by the activities of bandits, Boko Haram and kidnappers. This problem needs a holistic approach and at this time we should not be looking at party differences. The PDP have chosen their own Chairman, every Nigerian is looking at what APC may produce. This will determine where the country may be heading to in 2023. I hope that they make the right choice. They should not parade candidates who are not sellable to the Nigerian people.” He said

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Speaking on the matter arising, Jinjiri Ibrahim, a stakeholder in the APC Kano told NEWSng that, in as much as he would want APC to continue in 2023. The choice of leadership may make or mar the party. “I have read a lot about all the contending figures or personalities and I know them and know their capacity. A few days ago, I was approached by a certain group clamouring for better leadership in the APC. I told them only when APC has a personality with a vision, the party may suffer or put millions of Nigerians further into want and perdition. I am a member of the APC; we are not deaf to hearing the positions of millions of our people from within the party. I can give you an example of what is happening with the party here in Kano. We now have two factions although I will not tell you where I belong but of course you know that this is about leadership. I mean the right leadership. Kano should be a case study for APC at the National level.

“Like I said, I know all of them that their names have been mentioned. Not all of them have made a move yet. Those who indeed have made a move are few at this time. Senator Kashim Shettima is a man of honour. I have respect for him and I know that like other two or three Nigerians are calling, he makes a list of better candidates we are looking at this time of our history.” He said.

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Adamu Garba, a politician in Abuja said, “Talking about courageous leadership, I will vote for Kashim Shettima. Courage is not about bulldozing your way into a position of leadership. Courage is about your level of thinking and your capacity to build long and lasting relationships. I have no doubt about this about Kashim Shettima, he could be the answer to so many problems in the APC. I think President Muhammadu Buhari should begin to look at legacies he is going to leave behind. The right man for the job should be sought out.”

According to Garba, APC should enforce a debate among those seeking to occupy the position of leadership and draw lines that will hold them accountable. “I know for a fact that some of the contending personalities have nothing to offer for the party, but I won’t mention names. However, a keen observer should be able to make good judgments about those who have taken a step and those who may be making consultations. Fact checks should be the direction for the party.”

While speaking to a group of young Nigerians ready to come alive on the issues of leadership in the ruling party, the Yola base group at a meeting in Dugeri calls for support for the former Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima. The group which was led by Modu Ajiya, a citizen of Borno state and a Yola based businessman and politician said they are going to mobilize Nigerians to ensure a credible personality occupy the position of the National Championship of the All Progressive Congress, APC and to lead the party to victory in 2023.

Modu said, “We have come a long way and our campaign for a better Nigeria is gaining ground. Most of us are drawn from the APC youths wing both at state and National levels. We also have strong support from youths in the opposition because we have one target, which is national interest. Our calls are for our leaders in the APC National to see reasons for taking this country out of the troubled waters and to give the youths a platform to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. We see among the candidates people with the same characteristics of wanting to occupy a position without having a blueprint of what they intend to achieve for the greater majority. This has informed our call for the former Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima. This is our clarion call and we are going to mobilize the youths in APC and Nigeria to have a say about the future of this country.”

APC Chairmanship: ‘Why we are mobilizing support for Senator Kashim Shettima’ – Nigerian Youths