Borno State governor and immediate past chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum, Kashim Shettima, on Friday, disclosed that himself and other governors were working underground to resolve the ongoing face-off between Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Emir Mohammadu Sanusi II.
Recall that Mr Ganduje on May 8 had created four additional emirates with First Class emirs, a move that was alleged to have been carried out to whittle down the influence of Emir Sanusi.
However, Mr Shettima, who spoke with newsmen during the northern governors meeting in Kaduna, said that even though governors had no right to interfere into their individual states’ matter, he is particularly interested in seeing to the end of the face-off, especially as both individuals had touched his life positively.
Mr Shettima said: “Governor Ganduje and his highness, the Emir of Kano have done some things that eternally dear to the people of Borno, to me in particular.
“Governor Ganduje has adopted and granted lifetime scholarship from primary to University levels to 200 orphans from Borno State whose parents were killed by Boko Haram.
“These children are provided with accommodation, feeding and being given very good education in Kano State under a special welfare programme that the Governor approved.
“On the other hand, the Emir of Kano was our main link to Alhaji Aliko Dangote. In 2016, the Emir was in Borno and on seeing the humanitarian situation, he spoke to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dangote has been to Borno State more than 3 times.
“He has given the highest individual and private sector support to our humanitarian course and I will never forget that the Emir of Kano was the link. As CBN Governor, the Emir brought the CBN entrepreneurship development center to Borno State back in 2013 or so.
“He helped in raising global local and global awareness to our situation in Borno. I will never forget the empathy shown to us by the Emir of Kano as well as Governor Ganduje and this is why I play the role of a bridge builder.
“And then, we Governors have one unwritten policy, we don’t openly interfere with the issues of one another. We only play background roles to lobby and appeal.
“I cannot dictate to Ganduje how he should run Kano but we can work underground as bridge builders. God willing the Governor and the Emir will come back together as one,” Mr Shettima added.
