Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that rotational power shifts guarantees “equity and social justice under the present democratic dispensation in the country. The shifts of power among six geopolitical regions and 109 senatorial districts are in conformity with the provisions of 1999 constitution. Mohammed disclosed this on Saturday in Maiduguri, while addressing stakeholders and political party stalwarts at one day summit on Southern Borno Movement for Rotation of Power (SBMRP). He said even though the Borno summit is a historical event, the rotations of power among regions and senatorial districts are anchored on promotion of “social justice and political inclusiveness.” According to him, several states in the country have adopted rotational power shifts to sustain equity, justice and fairness. Mohammed, who was represented by the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari said: “Today’s (yesterday) summit convened by Prof. Peter Lassa and Alhaji Ibrahim Usman will not only guarantee equity and social justice to the people; but overcome challenges of national development in the state. “The affected senatorial district, comprise nine Local Government Areas of Askira/Uba, Chibok, Damboa, Gwoza, Hawul, Kwaya/Kusar, Bayo, Shani and Biu.” Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, said the people should fully cooperate and unite, before power could be shifted. He disclosed that the shifts of power in Borno, has remained between the north and central districts for 40 years. He said as the sky would be the limits of power shifts, the people should unite first, irrespective of their religious, ethnic and political affiliations. He warned that failure to unite among the various ethnic and religious groups, power will ever remain in the two senatorial districts. Hamza Bukar, in his goodwill message also said: “The leadership challenges in Borno state is critical and there is the need for power shift, come 2019. “We must speak and decide today (yesterday) at this Summit. The state was created in 1976 and had its first democratically elected Executive Governor in 1979. Southern Borno has never been given the opportunity of producing the Governor, despite the 54 per cent of votes from the senatorial district.” He noted that democracy is rooted in compromise and not conquest. “We have compromised and tolerated long enough. It is our turn now, while others should compromise and tolerate with us for once,” he said. He said the Summit was not only convened for power shift, but an avenue to demand for equity and fairness in the state’s affairs. According to him, power shift can be achieved through “unity and utilization” of block votes at the 2019 polls. Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima said that the shift of power to Southern Borno could impact positively on people’s lives. He said the people of Southern Borno have the highest level of literacy with a lot of human and capital resources. Shettima, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa however noted that the shift of power should be based on unity and inclusiveness of various ethnic and religious groups. He warned that political manipulation should not be adopted to realise the objectives of power shift to the south.
