No rift between Shettima, SSG, says Borno gov’t

 By Ali Abare Abubakar

The Borno State government has decried media reports suggesting that that the Secretary to the State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda was getting ready to resign from the cabinet over purported disagreement between him and Governor Kashim Shettima.

This was contained in a statement issued to journalists yesterday, signed by Alhaji Abba  Fugu, Permanent Secretary, at the state Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture.

In the release, the state government stated that it had previously ignored the reports as baseless but with recent revisit of the matter by some aspects of the media, government has found it necessary to put the records straight.

 Part of the statement reads:

“For the avoidance of any doubt, Governor Kashim Shettima and the Secretary to the Borno State Government have a perfect relationship that is evident to anyone conversant with happenings within the Government. There was never an issue of the Governor contemplating the sack of the SSG or the SSG contemplating resignation. We simply do not the origin of the entire story even though it appears the handiwork of some mischief makers who may be desperate to create an impression that all wasn’t well with the Government of Borno State in order to advance whatever political motive that could be in the offing.

 There is very high mutual respect and cordiality between the Governor and the SSG as they assiduously work to better the lives of Borno people through exemplary governance.

 The Government of Borno State is very much intact and it remains focused towards the continued search for peace, progress and development of the State”.

The statement went on to warn those spreading rumours about the government to desist from attempts to add more problems to that of insurgency already being faced in the state but which will come to an end in no distant time by the grace of God.

 The state government called on citizens of the state and other Nigerians to completely disregard any future publication of whatever kind that might be sponsored by enemies of the State in their likely attempt to continue their activities of trying to cause confusion in the State.