#TrackNigeria – Governor, Kashim Shettima on Friday in Kaduna clarified media reports attributed to him over the split of Kano Emirate. The Governor spoke in response to question by a journalist at the end of the northern Governors meeting. The journalist had asked if media reports were true, that he spoke in support of the creation of four additional Emirates in Kano State by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to downsize the influence of Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.
Shettima said he could never have spoken in support of the split of Kano Emirate or against the Governor because he has special relationship that makes him in the debt of both Governor Ganduje and Emir Sanusi. Governor Shettima spoke in the presence of Governor of Kano who was at the meeting of the Northern Governors during the questions and answers session.
“The context of my remark was completely changed but I normally do not confront journalists because they have been of strong support to me. Fact is that I could never have supported the development in Kano Emirate or spoken against the Governor. 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 20016, the Emir was in Borno and on seeing the humanitarian situation, he spoke to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dangote has been two 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. The northern Governors did play a role sometime back over the same Kano Emirate and we are still working underground because I cannot dictate the 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” Shettima said.
