- The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) rebukes Phrank Shuaibu for falsely accusing Vice President Kashim Shettima of aiding Boko Haram insurgents
- MURIC cites previous tensions between Shettima and former President Goodluck Jonathan as evidence against such claims
Mr. Phrank Shuaibu, an aide to former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has been chastised by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) for accusing Vice President Kashim Shettima of aiding and abetting Boko Haram insurgents during his tenure as governor of Borno State.
Prof Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, said in a statement on Sunday that Shuaibu’s specific accusation of Shettima assisting the abduction of the Chibok girls is false, malicious, odious, and insidious.
We are confounded both by the weight and intensity of these allegations, particularly against a sitting vice president. They are false, malicious, odious and insidious. They are simply lies from the pit of Jahannam.
How could any rational being accuse VP Shettima of aiding Boko Haram? It is on record that former President Goodluck Jonathan threatened to withdraw federal troops from Borno State when Shettima as the state governor complained of a glaring lackadaisical approach from the federal government to the Boko Haram saga. He asked if Shettima would be able to stay in the government house if he withdrew federal troops.
Jonathan’s exact words were, ‘I will pull them out for one month whether he (Shettima) will stay in that his Government House. But, if he thinks what he said is correct then I will pull out the armed forces for one month.’
VP Shettima had complained to the visiting president that Boko Haram was gaining the upper hand in the region because Nigerian soldiers are not well armed. But an angry Jonathan gave him the cold response above. It was more than a response. It was a threat. It was like, ‘Behave, or I will unleash them on you, Akintola said.
He, therefore, urged Mr Shuaibu to look elsewhere for those responsible for lapses in the attack on the Chibok girls.
We have no doubt that he does not have to look far, behind his shoulders, perhaps, Akintola said.