Former Borno State governor says Zulum is ‘better than me’ in everything

Senator Kashim Shettima and Governor Babagana Zulum

By OLATUNJI OMIRIN, Maiduguri

Senator Kashim Shettima representing Borno Central at the National Assembly has affirmed that the choice of Governor Babagana Zulum as his successor was not for personal reasons but in the best interest of Borno State.

He pointed out that Professor Zulum ‘is better than him in all ramifications.’

Shettima disclosed this while delivering a paper at a Public Lecture organized by a Coalition of Youths Groups in Birnin Kebbi with the theme: “Youths Development and Mentorship: The Role of Nothern Elites.”

He explained that he crossed a number of hurdles to eventually arrive at choosing his successor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, whom he also described as a trustworthy politician.

The former Governor advised leaders to realise that leadership remains a trust from God Almighty, adding that, it should be seen as a temporal session that one must account for in the hereafter.

“As leaders, we must put a sense of mentorship, train the youth to the best of our ability, bearing in mind that we cannot live forever,” he advised.

Specifically, on mentorship, Shettima observed that there was nothing more dangerous than to entrust power to intellectually incompetent persons.

He also lamented that majority of Youths lacked education or skills for entrepreneurship.

He stressed the need for the youth to be committed in the pursuit of education, to comfortably drive the country to the promise land.

Shettima advocated for grassroots socio-economic empowerment to propel national growth and development of the entire country.

In his speech at the occasion, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, urged youths in the country to learn how to support the evolution of future leaders. (Daily Trust)