Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima will attain the age of 49 on Wednesday as he was born on September 2, 1966 but Mr Shettima has strongly appealed to his political appointees, political associates in the All Progressives Congress, (APC), foreign and local contractors having dealings with the State, kinsmen, former colleagues in the banking sector as well as friends in different parts of the country not to place any advertisement on Newspapers, magazines, Television, Radio, online and social media platforms to congratulate him, noting that the restriction was to respect the memory of too many Borno citizens killed by Boko Haram insurgents in recent and previous attacks as well as the utmost need to honour the late Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha who died on August 15, 2015, less than three weeks ago.
The Governor placed the ban in a message of appeal issued by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau which was sent to media houses on Monday.
The Governor also sort the understanding of media houses that could have anticipated revenue from his 49th birthday with apologies to all expectant media houses especially those said to have distributed letters soliciting for goodwill adverts.
Shettima said he chose to send out the appeal on time knowing that associates who may desire to place congratulatory messages for him may want to contact media houses between today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday) to target publication by Newspapers or airing by broadcast stations on Wednesday, hence his decision to give enough notice.
Gusau said his boss had personally called some particular friends and associates whom he suspects were planning to place adverts and has made the appeal to them directly but felt it was necessary to tell others the Governor might not be aware of.
The Governor appealed to those willing to place adverts to channel the funds to different private organizations in Abuja and Maiduguri currently seeking funds to support multitudes of internally displaced persons affected by insurgency attacks in Borno and other parts of the northeast.
Shettima expresses very profound appreciation to anyone, group or institution especially those associated with the APC or Borno State Government that might have intended congratulating him on Wednesday. He pleaded with them to pray for the return of peace in Borno and all parts of Nigeria and for his administration to succeed in its practical efforts to remodel Borno State for the benefit of its citizens under an atmosphere of freedom from terror attacks and any violent or criminal threat.
Governor Kashim Shettima had refused to allow any birthday party from taking place since becoming a Governor in 2011, maintaining that he would only celebrate birthday, if necessary at all, when peace is completely restored in all parts of Borno State with affected citizens fully rehabilitated and re-integrated into reconstructed communities.
It could be recalled that in 2014, Governor Shettima had, as reported by the media, rejected a birthday bash planned by a group of his friends from Lagos and Abuja who wanted the party as a surprise to mark the Governor’s 48th birthday. The Governor however got wind of the plan, called the organizers to cancel the party the very day it was to take place explaining that it would be insensitive of him as Governor of Borno to be partying while citizens of his State were being killed as result of serial attacks by Boko Haram insurgents who destroyed dozens of communities rendering over 1.5 million internally displaced besides forcing others to take refuge in neighbouring countries.
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