We don’t share Boko Haram’s ideologies — Borno gov

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has said majority of the people of the state do not share the extremist ideology of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

 

Shettima said this on Saturday while expressing gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan over the appointment of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Elkanemi as the head of the Federal Government’s delegation for the 2013 Hajj exercise.

In a statement signed by his Director of Communications, Isa Gusau, the governor said the

 Shehu’s appointment was a development which would impact positively on the nation’s image.

The statement read, “Nigeria’s foreign image can be improved by the time the Shehu of Borno is seen representing the Federal Government, it will be clearer that generality of Nigerians even from Borno, where the insurgents held sway do not  share that ideology.

 

“In addition to that, the activities of the Shehu, whose name has Borno attached, will make the state to regularly be in the news for the good reasons.”

 

According to the statement, the appointment of the Shehu which was done by the President through the Sultan of Sokoto, will go a long way in helping the people of the state feel a sense of belonging.

The statement added, “(The appointment) is important for Borno’s and by extension Nigeria’s foreign image and has given some hope to the people of the  state and the North-East region that they have not been completely forgotten in their current tribulations.

 

“The governor described the Sultan’s decision as selfless leadership quality that is capable of healing wounds.

 

“Shettima had in the past queried national leaders, including those from the North, for not visiting Maiduguri, to empathise with the Shehu after he survived attempts on his life by a suicide bomber, at a Friday prayer, last year even with the monarch’s standing as next to the Sultan in hierarchy in the North.”