SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, (THEWILL) – As the war of words between the Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, and the Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, continues, the governor Wednesday accused Fani-Kayode of manipulating facts, describing him as a dubious liar.
On Tuesday, Fani-Kayode had claimed in a statement that Shettima came second in the Borno state governorship primary of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) where Fannami Gubio, who was later killed by Boko Haram, emerged the candidate of the party.
Observers of political developments in Borno however considered Fani-Kayode’s claim as mischievous and a way of blaming the death of Gubio on Shettima in order to replace Gubio.
But the governor in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mallam Isa Gusau, dismissed Fani-Kayode’s claim, accusing him of turning the truth on its head.
According to the statement, “The latest media attack by controversial Chief Femi Fani Kayode issued on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 has once again exposed him as the dubious liar that he was, he is and will forever be when he claimed that Governor Kashim Shettima became candidate of the ANPP in 2011 after the party’s flag bearer Fannami Gubio was killed because Shettima came second at the ANPP Governorship primary election that was won by Gubio before he was killed, meaning Shettima stood to benefit from Gubio’s killing.
“For the sake of putting records in proper perspective and in order to expose Kayode’s deliberate falsehood, Governor Kashim Shettima did not participate in the primary election that produced Modu Fannami Gubio as candidate of the ANPP ahead of the 2011 Governorship elections in Borno. This contradicts Kayode’s statement yesterday giving an impression that Shettima was second at a primary election that was won by Gubio and so he naturally benefited from Gubio’s assassination.
“Of course, the aim is to mischievously link Shettima with Gubio’s killing and this is to support the ongoing propaganda of the billionaire ex-governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff, and the PDP aligned to him to score cheap point ahead of the April 11, Governorship elections.
“Could it be that Kayode was handsomely paid to further that propaganda?
“The Late Gubio contested the 2011 ANPP governorship primary election with Alhaji Adamu Yuguda Dibal who was the sitting deputy governor of Borno State under Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. The election held in January, 2011 inside the Forsham Conference Centre in Maiduguri. Deputy Governor Dibal and Gubio were the only two aspirants that contested that ANPP Governorship primary elections held at night and Gubio won with 515 votes while the deputy Governor, Dibal got 169 votes, with a total of 709 votes cast by delegates.
“Kashim Shettima was one of the four ANPP chieftains that openly declared he had no intention to contest the 2011 governorship elections, when he was called to speak at an ANPP stakeholders meeting held at the multi-purpose hall of the Government House, Maiduguri around November in 2011, which was presided over by then Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and everyone in Borno knows this. Shettima was not among the first three most likely persons to secure the ANPP Governorship ticket either before Gubio’s death of after he was killed.”
The statement noted that Shettima came into the race much later after Gubio’s death as there were candidates better positioned than him as he was largely seen as a greenhorn politicians who was appointed a commissioner in 2007 from his position as a General Manager in Zenith Bank.
The statement said Shettima surprising emerged the party’s candidate on February 7, 2011 when former Governor Modu-Sheriff opposed the candidature of Alhaji Mohammed Imam and the party stakeholders settled for Shettima.
“We please advise ignorant Kayode to do some research before making statements so that he doesn’t keep embarrassing our President and the PDP. Femi Fani Kayode seems to be one that knows very little and thinks he knows so much.
“He (Femi Fani-Kayode) should know that he speaks for the Presidency and not his ignorant self, he should learn to take very little time to get his facts right. We understand the extent of hatred he has built in his desperate heart for no reason but he should control the hatred and at least say what he can defend not making dubious falsehoods that keep exposing him.
“Being a spokesman goes beyond speaking Queen’s English, it is about accuracy that should earn one the trust of his listeners,” the statement added.
