Image of Senator Kashim Shettima is currently trending on social media recalling how he dined and wined with Boko Haram fighters when he was governor of Borno State for eight years.
The photograph shows how Senator Kashim Shettima who was nominated as presidential running mate to Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 general election eating with some people while sitting on mat. The image on the social media depicted Shettima as a Boko Haram person.
Shettima’s alleged connection with Boko Haram fighters who are enemies of the State has been on steady rise since Sunday when he was finally pronounced as running to Bola Ahmed Tinubu across several social media.
But did he eat or ever eat with Boko Haram fighters?
One of the former aides, on New Media who authored the controversial photograph at the time they were in office, I. A. Ningi wrote:
“Ever since the former governor was announced as the running mate to Asiwaju Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, the image has been peddled online accusing the former Borno governor of being a Boko haram apologist.
“The picture was reportedly said to depict a meeting between the governor and some ‘Boko haram’ members.”
According to the former aide, I. A Ningi as seen via his Twitter page, he explained that the images were shot when the governor had a meeting with some nomadic (Mbororo) Fulani parents in Borno.
Ningi explained that Kashim Shettima built a school for the nomadic children in the state, while recalling how the nomadic cattle-herders had lost their source of livelihood as thousands of their cows were rustled away by the bandits and cattle rustlers.
“After their cattle were rustled, many of the Fulani forcefully relocated to Maiduguri town where they took up shelter and also engaged in minor jobs such as “maiguards” to earn a living.
As a result of their relocation to Maiduguri town, the governor decided to
build the schools and also brought about the introduction of a 2-Square-meal-per-day feeding programme.
“The government also purchased bicycles for the nomadic children to help encourage enrollment as well as boost their mental capacity”, adding that the viral images was the time the Governor opted to join the parents for a meal, when he visited them.
