As the battle for the 9th Senate President heats up, concerned Borno citizens have dissociated themselves from the declared support of the state Governor, Kashim Shettima to the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan.
The concerned citizens also affirmed its support for the aspiration of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume representing Borno South Senatorial district to be Senate President.
Spokesman of the group, Alhaji Yakubu Kwangyang Umar, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, said Governor Shettima was entitled to his opinion, and was only speaking in his personal capacity.
In his words, “The attention of the Concerned Borno Citizens as well as the entire Borno State has been drawn to a statement credited to the State Governor, Kashim Shettima that the state has resolved to tow the party line in its endorsement of Senator Ahmad Lawan for the position of the Senate President and Femi Gbajabmila.
“This is even as a distinguished sons of Borno State in the person of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and Hon Betara Aliyu are in the race for Senate President and Speaker respectively.
“Borno stakeholders and elders have received the news with shock.
“As you are all aware, the APC National Chairman made a statement endorsing Senator Lawan as the Party’s preferred candidate and Senator Ndume responded by saying the Chairman’s position is unconstitutional and anti-people.
“The Chairman’s statement came days after we made a press conference calling on Senator Ndume to vie for the position of the Senate President and the Senator responded by informing the Party vide a letter to the National Chairman of his intent to contest for the post.
“Among the reasons we advanced for Senator Ndume’s aspiration are the fact that he has the people at heart, he is a loyal party man and has the privilege of being a Minority Leader in the House of Reps 2007-2011, a Senator with a sound cognate experience, Senate Leader 2015-2017, Director of the North East Presidential Campaign Council 2019 among other credentials.
“It is rather surprising that while the state is counting on the Governor’s support for Senator Ndume, he is clearly seen working against the aspiration.
“The Governor therefore spoke in his personal capacity, which he is entitled to, and not for and on behalf of the stakeholders and elders on the platform of Concerned Borno Citizens.
“We are also not surprised by the statement of Bulama Mali Gubio for who we will not join issue with him since he is also not a member of Concerned Borno Citizens and therefore cannot speak on our behalf.
“We therefore make our position clear that the Concerned Borno Citizens, our various youth organizations and the people of Borno State are solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari to whom we gave the highest votes cast in the country in terms of percentage as well as supporting Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the President of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly.”
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