According to the PDP then, it was only when the PDP was allowed to form the government in Borno State that the State could enjoy the type of federal presence it deserves, and it was the only time it could get the full backing of the Federal Government in its fight against insurgency in the State. In fact, former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s defection to the party was seen as a major morale booster, for the PDP’s quest to win the State, with Sheriff himself boasting to former President Goodluck Jonathan that he would ensure he delivers the State to him and to the PDP. But by the time the Presidential election was won and lost in March this year, the PDP’s quest to govern the State made little or no meaning to an average Borno person, as the few coverts it had gotten saw no further need to continue to support the PDP, since the APC which it intended to send packing, has now won the Presidential election, just as Governor Kashim Shettima, who was then a Governorship candidate of the APC, seeking a re-election, expressed confidence that the APC-led Federal Government would not forsake the State. One month into the APC-led administration at the centre, Shettima’s verdict is that Borno State has started feeling the impacts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. And he told no less persons, than those who bear the brunt of insurgency in the State: Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. He spoke when he organized an ‘iftar’ (breaking of Ramadan fast) at an IDP camp located at Yerwa Girls College in Maiduguri, last Friday night. The iftar was attended by the Emir of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi, who himself has been displaced, following the destruction of his palace and occupation of Bama by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014. Shettima, who arrived one of the 20 camps housing part of the people of Bama who have the largest number of displaced persons at about 6:15pm, performed ‘Magrib’ prayers at Sunset in congregation of the IDPs before settling down to enjoy the breaking of fast with about 2,000 displaced persons. A combined team of security men and youths volunteers made sure the exercise, which was the first of its kind, went hitch- free, for nearly two hours. Speaking after the ‘iftar’, Shettima told the displaced persons that since Buhari became President, the Federal Government has now taken over most responsibilities of funding activities across the about 20 IDPs camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, noting that this was in sharp contrast to what was obtainable during the Jonathan’s administration, where Borno State Government fully took most of the responsibilities. Hear him: “We have started feeling the impacts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. For instance, from 2013 when we started establishing camps for displaced persons in Biu for the people of Damboa and to the number of camps we have now, the Borno State Government was solely bearing the biggest burden of funding these IDP camps until few weeks ago. “Today, with the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has taken over so many responsibilities in these camps and this is how it ought to be ab initio. Today, under the Buhari administration, we have a NEMA that has accelerated its presence in Borno. The agency was doing so much even before the APC administration given the kind of Federal Government they had, but the difference in NEMA’s approach today is far different from what obtained before,” Shettima, declared. Explaining further, Shettima said early last week, when the Governors met with President Buhari on the state of the Nation, one of the President’s renewed assurances to them was his resolve to fight the insurgents headlong, and a firm pledge to offer special support to the three States, affected greatly by the activities of the insurgents. The States are: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. He said further that: “I am very confident that this APC- led Federal Government will support Borno State in its healing process and all of you that are internally displaced within and outside Borno as well as those taking refuge outside Nigeria, will in sha Allah be supported back on your feet and you will be reintegrated into your communities that will be reconstructed bi iznillah (by the permission and Grace of Allah.) “We have the will, we have people that are ready to work, we have a Federal Government that is ready to support and we are ready to deploy whatever resources at our disposal to reconstruct destroyed communities. And let me also say, that supporting you is not a privilege, it is your rights to be supported and it is our constitutional and moral obligation to support all of you,” the Governor, insisted. The Governor also seized the opportunity to urge citizens to show love and support for displaced persons, noting that no one was beyond facing challenges in life, adding that “ the IDPS are us and we are them. Whenever I move from my residence to my office inside the Government House or when I move round Maiduguri and see some of the beautiful estates we are constructing or when I drive through our new Hospitals, schools and streetlights, I see the Borno of my vision not the real Borno that is faced with challenges. “I then discovered that whenever I am around Internally Displaced Persons camps, I see the real Borno as things are today. And from the faces of the people I see in the camps, I always take with me two messages: On one hand, I see despair, I see pity and shattered dreams on the faces of many. On some others, I see strength and hope that are true to the indomitable spirit of Borno men and women. “I love to visit IDPs and whenever I am coming I try to come with as many people as possible so that whoever has no displaced relation or friend in his house here in Maiduguri, will on coming here, be reminded that hundreds of thousands of Borno citizens are in distress. Those of us, who may not be displaced today, would need to know that we are not superior to those who found themselves in the condition they are today. They are not displaced because Allah doesn’t like them; Allah is only testing their faith as He tries everyone through one challenge or the other. We must therefore support our brothers and sisters that are displaced. Our support may not have to do with camps only, if you have displaced persons in your neighborhood, please extend support to them and show them love and affection. The IDPs are us and we are them,” the Governor, admonished.
Click photo to download; but you lied to me by Expdona aka finish gravity
Expdonaloaded blog;Click the photo to download aboki wey d suya by Expdona aka finish gravity
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