Shetimma urges presidency to ensure power rotation in 2023

The immediate past governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima has called on the presidency to ensure power rotation between the northern and southern parts of the country in 2023.

Shettima, who stressed the need to ensure the spirit of fairness and justice blamed selfish politicians for the current woes confronting the country.

Shettima spoke on Friday in Abuja during the public presentation of an autobiography by the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFund) Research and Development Standing Committee, Prof. Emeritus Njidda Mamadu Gadzama. 

The presentation of the book titled: “Standing For The Truth With Courage,” attracted top dignitaries including the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, former Governor of Bauchi State, Ahmadu Muazu, among others. 

He said that religion and ethnicity are being used by some people to pursue their selfish agenda.

While calling for unity and justice in the country to ensure more peaceful co-existence, Shettima emphasized that Nigeria must not be allowed to implode.

“I believe in equity, justice and fairness. After power has resided in the North for eight years, there is a need for a power shift in the South.

“Nigeria must not be allowed to implode as no country in the continent would be able to accommodate its huge population”, he said. 

On his part, the Chief of Staff said Nigeria was going through difficult moments but would soon overcome the challenges. 

He called for support for President Muhammadu Buhari administration so that the country can be well-positioned to address all its challenges. 

“We are going through difficult times in our country, economic, security but let us recognise that the whole world is going through the same fate, Nigeria is part of the world. But the leadership under which we operate shows we shall indeed overcome all these. 

“If we keep united, keep building, we cannot be ignored by any other country in the world. I am convinced that under the leadership of President Buhari there is going to be a better future. He belongs to all Nigerians,” he said. 

Presenting the book, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, described Gadzama as a great academic who has impacted massively in the nation’s higher education sector. 

Bogoro said Gadzama, who was the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and University of Port Harcourt as well as a member of the Nigerian Academy of Science, deserves commendations for his courage, truth and service to Nigeria. 

“It takes the truth and courage for things to be said the way they are, but the man Professor Emeritus Gadzama that will know does so with diplomacy even when he said the truth with courage,” Bogoro said. 

The TETFund boss said the Gadzama led Research and Development Standing Committee has recommended the establishment of the National R&D Foundation to secure the knowledge economy of Nigeria.