The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly criticised Phrank Shuaibu, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for levelling accusations against Vice President Kashim Shettima, alleging his involvement in aiding and abetting Boko Haram insurgents during his tenure as governor of Borno State.
On September 8, Shuaibu publicly accused Shettima of assisting and supporting insurgents during his time as the governor of Borno, specifically implicating him in the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
However, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of MURIC, issued a statement in Abuja on Monday, denouncing these allegations as false, malicious, odious, and insidious.
Akintola expressed deep bewilderment at the gravity and intensity of these allegations, particularly against a sitting vice president. He stated that these accusations amounted to nothing more than falsehoods originating from ill intentions.
He also emphasised that Shuaibu’s accusations turned the pages of history upside down, pointing to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s threat to withdraw federal troops from Borno when Shettima, as the state governor, voiced concerns about the government’s lackadaisical approach to the Boko Haram crisis.
Akintola recalled Jonathan’s words: “I will pull them out for one month, whether he (Shettima) will stay in that government house. But if he thinks what he said is correct, then I will pull out of the armed forces for one month.”
Shettima’s complaint, according to Akintola, aimed to secure better equipment for Nigerian soldiers to effectively combat Boko Haram. He argued that a governor genuinely aiding insurgents would not have made such a request but would have joined those embezzling funds intended for purchasing weapons for the Nigerian military.
Furthermore, Akintola highlighted that former President Jonathan delayed action for nineteen days after the abduction, indicating official complacency.
‘’It is therefore the zenith of mischief for Atiku’s aide to accuse Shettima of involvement in the ugly incident.
“Official duplicity cannot be totally ignored. For example, in the case of Dapchi, where 110 girls were abducted, the governor of Yobe at the time alleged that soldiers were withdrawn a week before the attack
“MURIC admonishes 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, perhaps behind his shoulders.”
