Don’t pulld0wn the roof”, VP Kashim Shettima warns amid political t£nsion in Borno, others

“Don’t pulldown the roof”, VP Kashim Shettima warns amid political tension in Borno, others

Nigeria’s vice President, Kashim Shettima has seemingly responded to the political development in his home state, Borno state amid report of his fallout with governor Babagana Umura Zulum over governorship succession.

Reliant.ng had reported that vice President Kashim Shettima and governor Zulum failed to find a common ground on Zulum’s successor. Yesterday, the Borno state governor openly declared his preference for Mustapha Gubio, his former commissioner of works at the expense of vice president Kashim Shettima’s preferred candidate.

A day after Mustapha Gubio picked the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship form, vice president Kashim Shettima warns that political aspirants and stakeholders must prioritize the peace and unity of the party over their political aspirations. He advised that politicians must not yield to media pressure or pressure from their supporters to destabilize their political party especially if their political aspiration is not realized.

Leadership demands that we rise above provocation. Leadership demands that we ask: who benefits when brothers fight? Who gains when a party weakens itself before facing the opposition? Who profits when those who should be building bridges begin to dig trenches?” He stated

We must therefore refuse the temptation to be manipulated by the media, by mischief-makers, by vested interests, or by those who profit from division. There will always be those who whisper that one leader has been slighted, that one bloc has been excluded, or that one interest has been buried”, VP Shettima advised.

Kashim Shettima added that politicians must understand that the true test of a leader is not the moment of victories but how he handles disappointment. He advises those seeking the party’s ticket to be mindful of the fact that only one candidate will emerge from the contest, warning that other aspirants must be able to handle the outcome of the contest by putting the party first.

It is not how loudly he campaigns when the wind is behind him. The true test is how he behaves when the wind turns against him. Anyone can celebrate victory. It takes character to manage disappointment”.

While encouraging the aspirants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, Kashim Shettima also appealed to the party’s leadership to be fair and transparent in the conduct of primary elections. According to him, the strength of the ruling party must not become its weakness.

So, I appeal to our leaders: let us be fair. I appeal to our aspirants: let us be patient. I appeal to our supporters: let us be disciplined. I appeal to our party faithful: let us be united. The roof over this house shelters all of us. If we pull it down in anger, nobody will be spared by the storm.”