By: Inuwa Bwala
Those who know the kind of fraternity between Vice President Kashim Shettima and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, also know that, there can never be any disagreement between them over any issue, not even political permutations in Borno between them.
When I read an online analysis atributed to an unknown source, quoting an equally unknown KBC news, I know, that the merchants of mischief are again upto their games.
Overtly or covertly, the duo of Kashim Shettima and Babagana Umara Zulum, have never given anyone reasons to believe, they are in disagrerment, over who becomes the next governor of Borno state.
What has never been in doubt, is their collective belief that, as Muslims, God is the ultimate determinant of who gets what, in the power equations in Borno, now or in the future.
I have had intimate interactions with both of them, and even in my usual speculative mind as a journalist, I never had the incling that there was any friction of some sort, over who succeeds Zulum as Governor.
Rather, at every turn, both leaders have displayed exceptional sense of camaraderie and mutual respect to eachother.
The Vice President, often comes down from his olympian height to tell people, that, once he comes to Borno, the Governor is his boss.
Governor Zulum will often tell everybody, that Kashim Shettima remains his mentor and leader, and everytime he goes to Abuja, the Vice President’s house is his first port of call.
Perhaps, those who fabricate such phantom disagreements, between them, are the usual conflict profiteers, who thrive on driving wedges between leaders for fun or for some gains.
Not quite a week ago, Governor Zulum was in the media telling the world that, he will not play god by trying to annoint anybody as his successor, but believes that God is the ultimate decider through the instrumentality of the people of Borno.
The Vice President has never uttered a word about the politics of Borno, rather, he demonstrates statemanly disposition on all matters relating to the state.
As humans, they may have preferences, but as believers in the indispensibility of God, their preferences are at the altar of the almighty.
Bringing in names of people as possible successors could after all be mere promotional gimmicks, which at the end of the day endanger their chances.
The person who may succeed Governor Zulum may not even be amongst those mentioned, perhaps a dark horse somewhere, who does not even know that he or she is God’s choice.
Very often, I cite the emergence of our dear Governor himself, in 2019. Nobody gave him a chance and all eyes were focused in other directions, untill God’s calling came.
As for those who manufacture the stories of a dilema surrounding Senator Kashim Shettima’s position as Vice President in the next dispensation, the open expression of confidence in Kashim Shettima by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alone, should be sufficient.
Those who know the President very well can attest to his bluntness, and his actions have so far given assurance, that, Kashim Shettima is his dependable ally.
Tinubu is not known to play to the gallery and he does not gamble with his passions. Where people get the idea that he may drop Kashim Shettima, as his running mate in 2027 remains as puzzling, as the earlier stories preceeding the 2023 election.
It is not an anathema for people to permutate against 2027, but with more than one year still ahead, I feel people should not be too uncharitable in distracting leaders, fantasizing imaginary scenarios.
I may be right or wrong, but the truth may not be too far away from comming.
Just musing.
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