2015: Borno CAN supports Shettima’s candidature

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday expressed overwhelming support for the second term bid of Governor Kashim Shettima in the 2015 general elections.

The association said Governor Shettima deserved second term in office in order to continue with the numerous developmental projects he executed across the state.

The state CAN chairman, Rev. Titus Pona stated this while leading officials of the association on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Maiduguri.

Pona commended Shettima for his numerous achievements in spite of the Boko Haram insurgency and urged him to continue.

“Our prayer is that your government will continue beyond 2015, due to your exemplary leadership style which carry everybody along regardless of religious, ethnic or political affiliations’’, he further added.

In his remarks, Shettima commended the association for its support to the government and peaceful approach during the ongoing security challenges.

He said government has voted the sum of N100 million to offer scholarship for 57 students of the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, who had escaped from the captivity of Boko Haram insurgents.

He however added that only 51 of the 57 girls will be involved as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has already offered scholarship for the remaining six

“I wish to announce to you that government is in the process of sending the escapee Chibok girls to school to continue their education.

We are actually sending them to schools around Zaria, Kaduna and Jos, so they can be in conducive learning atmosphere,’’ he said.

“Out of the 51, 36 have already arrived Maiduguri, leaving the balance of 15,’’ he said.

Shettima said that the rest students were expected to arrive Maiduguri within a short time for the onward journey to their new schools.

He said government planned to spend a sum of N1.4 million on each of the girls per year to ensure that they had sound education.

“The State government is spending N1.4 million on each of the girls per year to ensure that they have access to good and sound education. The money will cover the cost of tuition, accommodation, books, facilities and other fees charged by the owners,’’ Shettima said.

He said government decided to invest huge amount on the girls to give them a sense of belonging.

“We have a duty to ensure that they have access to the best education affordable. This is because they are our daughters, our sisters who are lucky to have escaped from terrorists hands,’’ Shettima said.