SHEHU, BORNO DEP GOV BACK JONATHAN'S BID
The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar El-kanemi has declared that the traditional institution would support a leader who is committed to the socio-economic advancement of the country.
The state deputy governor, Alhaji Adamu Dibal who spoke at a different forum also said he would not be deterred from supporting the president despite their political differences.
The Shehu, who received the Goodluck/Sambo 2011 Presidential team at his palace praised the caliber of politicians in the campaign team, adding that their appointment represented and reflected the Nigerian state. He, however, implored the team to remind the president on what he described as 'low presence of Federal Government projects and structure in the state.'
'We will support President Goodluck Jonathan 100 percent but we need to be considered. We are not a small kingdom, our history in Borno spans over a period of 1,200 years and we deserve to be treated as a very important state in the country. Top among our problems are the poor representation of our sons and daughters at the federal level; Borno state despite its retinue of qualified sons and daughters, has only one permanent secretary at the federal civil service,' he declared.
Speaking further, the traditional ruler said most of the federal roads in the state were in shambles. 'Most especially the one leading to Gamboru-Ngala from Maiduguri, we can say we don't have electricity even though a dedicated line takes electricity through Borno to Niger-Republic; we are bordered by three African nations, yet we suffer less infrastructure in Borno.'
Dibal on the other hand told the visiting campaign team that his relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan which spanned a period of 15 years was enough for him to throw his weight behind his (Jonathan) presidential bid even as he maintained that the Goodluck/Sambo ticket would bring the expected change in the country.
His words: 'Though I'm here to represent my governor as elected leaders of our great party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but everyone knows my relationship with President Jonathan which is over 15 years now. He has been my person and I do not have option than to show my support for him. He has been a good leader and we believe he will take Nigeria to the promised land.'
He also commended the president for 'being a true democrat who refused to take advantage of his incumbency factor to manipulate election process but rather deployed a formidable team of credible politicians to traverse the nooks and crannies of the country canvassing votes for him.'
Director General of Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Senator Dalhatu Tafida thanked the deputy governor for his courage and show of love despite the fact he belonged to an opposition party. Tafida also told the Shehu at his palace that the team was in the state to solici supports of PDP delegates in the coming presidential primaries, adding that their mission would be incomplete without paying homage and seeking for fatherly blessings from the royal father.
The DG noted that the Shehu was an apolitical royal father but said his support for President Jonathan would bring more tidings to the people of Borno State especially in the area of improved electricity, exploration of oil at the Chad Basin areas, the completion of Mambila hydro electric project as well as the revamping of agriculture in the state.