KACRAN Praises Shettima’s Leadership Qualities

By Bukar Bolori

Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has said that the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima has come to show to the rest of Nigerians the jewel he was while handling the demoralizing Boko Haram crisis he could still move Borno State in the path of development as a governor.

The group, in a statement on Friday, signed by its National President, Hon Khalil Bello said Kashim Shettima’s magic in Borno State is gradually being unraveled at the national level since he was appointed first as a Vice Presidential candidate and later elected.

Bello said: “Sincerely speaking, before he was deservely and most suitably nominated by our action President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his presidential running mate, what Nigerians know about the political capacity, actionability, thruthworthness, firmness, vast experience in governance, sincerity of purpose and inclusivity in governance of Senator Kashim Shettima was very little especially those living outside the parameter of Borno State or other part of the North East region of the country.”

He added that: “Unlike his immediate predecessor, His Excellency Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who out of wisdom and foresight nominated Kashim Shettima to succeed him, who was well known both in the State and in national politics, the only thing many Nigerians knows about His Excellency, the Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima was a former governor of Borno State who performed wonderfully good in his State when he was a governor towards fighting insurgency and bringing numerous developmental projects in his State and serving Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, that was all but he was hardly a major voice in the nation’s politics.

“But after being wisely nominated to serve in the aforementioned capacity and started given very hot lectures and powerful speeches during the APC rallies and presidential campaign activities across the country, it was then, that many Nigerians who were not fully acquainted with his versatility in the Nigeria’s politics and other issues of great importance towards unity and the development of our fatherland, they the entire nation started knowing this jewel, Senator Kashim Shettima.”

He added that: “Then comes the time when he was successfully elected as the vice president and Nigeria’s political horizon was beclouded or darkened with claims and counter claims on which religion or part of the country as a matter of establishing trust, confidence and cementing the country, and who would be right to produce the 10th Senate President. Shettima came up to show the light.”

He acknowledged that this was misconstrued by the Muslim north, with: “This singular remark seriously heating up the northern Nigeria’s political space in response, the unassuming and the amiable vice president, being a very simple and humble man made a very strong heartfelt and heart warming apologetic appeal in BBC Hausa Radio broadcast, where he passionately appealed to all the aggressived people, that his statement was misunderstood, adding that his stand was with good intention to buttress the need for justice and equity in the allocation of public office in Nigeria and not to belittle any religion in the country.

“He even stated that, he is a devoted Muslim whose parents and ancestors are Islamic scholars who worked assiduously in spreading and preaching islamic religion, he said the history of his Islamic leanage would be traced back for over one thousand four hundred years back.”

He said: “We member of the above great association (KACRAN), are so much excited on how the vice president directly talk to Nigerians more speciality his fellow Muslims brothers and apologize for the crime he never committed or intended to do, and seeks for their forgiveness and that of his creator the Almighty Allah.

“To us KACRAN, the above singular act of our democratic vice president clearly shows how courageous and very sincere person he is.Secondly, when he was a governor in Borno State, His Excellency our Vice President Kashim Shettima, demonstrated act of sincerity and inclusiveness to Borno State herders whom he treated with equity, justice and fairness by enrolling their children/wards into the most prominent, private and loved Secondary School in Maiduguri known as Elkanemi College of Islamic and Theology,“where he paid for their tuition fees for both primary and secondary School up to their completion“that during his Government, in his bid to treat his subjects equally. He made sure that the children of the most vulnerable/under privileged herders especially children of Fulani security guards and those whose parents are living in the bushes or villages are given equal or more opportunities same as those who are residing in Maiduguri metropolitan city.

“Most of these children are currently speaking pure Arabic language and Queen’s English, because they were receivers of both Islamic and Western education.

“He provided free buses on daily bases moving from one street to another in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere local government and environs to transport the herders children to the school to and fro.

“Similarly, in making sure that, the Borno State herders children have gotten the same educational right equal to those who are residing in Abuja , FCT, Senator Kashim Shettima built an ultra modern Special Primary and Secondary School in New GRA, Bama Raod, Maiduguri and named after the wife of immediate past president during their regime “Aisha Buhari Integrated Primary and Secondary School”, where by ninety percent of the students are herders children in which the resident of the said GRA who are mainly his Kanuri kinsmen were given only ten percent of the total number of students to be admitted and on daily basis gave free meals to all students.

“We of KACRAN, it is our ardent belief that this is courage, justice sincerity and fairness in the highest order done to us by Vice President Kashim Shettima for which he deserves our highest commendation and appreciation.

“More so, I want to use this medium to advise and encourage our leaders to kindly emulate the good virtues of apologizing and asking for forgiveness from their followers whenever they offend or seem to have offended them. Truly this is a mark of true and authentic leadership, humility in leaders go a long way to promote harmony and understanding in society.”