Borno Governor Shettima weeps over Boko Haram as he visits Buhari

Borno State Governor, Mr Kashim Shettima, couldn’t hold back
tears on Monday as he broke down before President Muhammadu Buhari
in Abuja.

The governor cried over the activities of Boko Haram insurgents
in his state, which had witnessed a sudden rebound lately.

He shed tears before Buhari at the Council Chambers of the
Presidential Villa, urging the President to do all he could to stop
the insurgents, who now attacked communities at will.

The governor had gone to the Villa in company with Borno elders
to meet with Buhari and seek further ways of addressing the
resurgence in attacks by Boko Haram.

Others at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Maj.
Gen Babagana Monguno (retd.); who is also from Borno State; Chief
of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Acting Director-General
of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; and the
Director-General of Department for State Services, Mr Yussuf
Bitchi.

In his opening remarks, Shettima reminded Buhari of some
resolutions reached at an extraordinary security meeting held in
Borno State a week ago and the need to urgently implement them.

But, as he spoke, he became emotional and tears rolled down his
cheeks.

He said amid sobs, “Between 2013 and 2014, we witnessed the most
daring and most vicious evil of the Boko Haram, losing 20 local
government areas.

“However, we rushed here because of the recent upsurge in the
activities of the demented monster called Boko Haram, especially in
northern Borno senatorial district. We are here because since 2015,
Mr President, you were able to restore our hope.

“Sir, you have demonstrated empathy for Borno and the overriding
commitment to ending the Boko Haram. This is why we rushed here on
witnessing some setbacks.

“We are here because we thought that Allah will use you to fully
reclaim Borno traditional glory of being the home of peace. We are
here as a people who worked, prayed and waited for your Presidency
in the firm belief that with you as the Commander-In-Chief, Boko
Haram will become history in Borno.

“Mr President, we have not, and Insha Allah, we will not lose
hope in you because we have witnessed and survived worse moments
before you came. We do not feel hopeless.

“Our hopes are very much alive and they are very high.

“We came with some observation and 10 requests for urgent
presidential intervention. These observations and requests are
products of discussion in the aftermath of our extra-ordinary
security meeting held one week ago.

“We didn’t rush to come after the meeting. We felt the need to
travel to northern Borno, interact with displaced persons and the
military so as to strengthen public confidence. ”