‘Restructuring My Foot’, Shettima Says Nigeria`s Problem That Of Leadership

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has kicked against the call for restructuring Nigeria, saying it is not Nigeria’s problem.

Shettima said this while speaking in an interview with Channels TV on Nigeria’s restructuring and the activities of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.

The governor said the call for restructuring is more like “treating the symptoms, not the disease.”

According to him, restructuring the minds of the people and the quality of governance was more important than the issue of devolution of power.

He said: “Restructuring my foot; let’s restructure our minds, let’s restructure our quality of governance. When people are talking of artificial intelligence, when others are talking of robotics engineering, of nanotechnology, we are talking of restructuring the federation; our problem is not an issue of devolution of powers, let’s be very honest.

“Our problem, as Chinua Achebe rightly encapsulated, is largely that of leadership. Leadership that will put the nation first is much more important than restructuring the nation. Let’s restructure our minds. Let’s restructure our quality of leadership,” Shettima added

When asked if President Muhammadu Buhari should run for presidency in 2019, Shettima said: “He’s a stabilising factor in this country; he’s a man of impeccable credentials, no matter what you will accuse Buhari of, nobody can accuse Buhari of corruption.

“But that decision should be made by the President, nobody should ask him not to contest, in the same vein nobody should push him to contest; he has his own health to take care of, he’s not a young man by any standard. If the nation still needs him and the nation truly needs the wisdom, the integrity, the commitment of the likes of Buhari. But believe me, whatever decision he takes, we are solidly behind him.

He further assured that the abducted lecturers of the University of Maiduguri will regain their freedom soon.

Three lecturers of the university were months back abducted by the Boko Haram sect.

“I believe discussions are currently ongoing; I will rather not comment on this issue so as not to jeopardise the lives of those hostages but I can assure you that discussions are ongoing and very soon they will regain their freedom,” the governor added.