Shettima, Wakil Urge Decorum, As Jonathan Campaigns In Borno Saturday

AHEAD of Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) campaign rally in Maiduguri, Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to his supporters and other indigenes of the state not to show any “form of disrespect” to President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage during or after the event. 

  Also, the Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil has urged the people of the state especially the opposition “to be tolerant” during the President’s visit.

  The governor gave the warning in a statement he personally signed Friday in Maiduguri that was made available to The Guardian. 

  The Governor’s call came as a result of recent incidents in Bauchi and Katsina States during which irate youths reportedly went wild against the President’s convoy.

  The statement reads in part: “The acts of the youths are not only unacceptable in a democratic culture, but are also a disrespectful show of intolerance and extreme bad politics.

   “From what I have read or heard in the media so far, there has not been any issue of such in any APC controlled state visited by the President and Borno should not be an exception. We have political differences and our differences are legitimate and based on the principles of our political parties and what we stand for. 

    “But we must remember that His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as citizens of this country; we have an obligation to respect his office and his person. Our millions of citizens who support the APC in Borno State and our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and anyone that supports me or any of our National and State Assembly candidates in the state, should shun any act of violence, intolerance and unlawful political behaviour before, during and after the President’s visit.”

  Wakil said: “The President is for all, irrespective of party and religious differences in the country, which Borno State is part of.”