9th April, 2018
Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to seek re-election in 2019 as the right thing that happened to the nation’s political system in recent times.
Shettima stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Monday.
Buhari had earlier on Monday before departing for London on official visit at the meeting of National Executive Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja declared his intention to run for the election.
The governor said members of the APC, including the 24 governors elected on the platform of the party, had expressed their support to the president’s intention to re-contest.
Shettima added that “we are fully in support of his decision and it’s part of democratic culture: traditionally, the president has the right of first refusal of the candidature of the party.
“So, it’s not something that is unusual or unwarranted or unconstitutional, he has done the right thing, he is going to contest and we are solidly behind him.”
On whether the president consulted with APC stakeholders before announcing his decision to seek re-election, Shettima said President Buhari was not under any obligation to consult governors or anybody.
According to him, the president has been under tremendous pressure to make that pronouncement.
“So, we should heave a sigh of relief since he has finally announced his intention to contest.
“We will give him the kind of support we gave in 2015,’’ he added.