I will stay with Shettima in APC, says Borno deputy governor

Borno Deputy Governor, Zannah Umar Mustapha, has ruled out the possibility of his moving out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to fall out from its recent convention saying he will stand by his boss, Governor Kashim Shettima in the (APC).

The deputy governor was speculated as intending to move alongside former governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who has expressed displeasure with the outcome of the convention.

Mustapha was running mate to Kashim ImamSheriff ’s candidate for the post of APC national secretary-when Imam contested the 2003 and 2007 governorship elections in Borno State.

Daily Trust reported yesterday that Imam alongside Sheriff is considering dumping the APC following feelings that Imam was manouevred out of the race.

An associate of Sheriff, Umar Duhu, confirmed that both Sheriff and Imam were unhappy with the outcome of the convention.

But Mustapha while speaking with journalists in Abuja, said he has since made a decision that Shettima will be the last person he will deputise for because he doesn’t see himself contesting as running mate or working under any other person order than his current boss.

“I have worked with His Excellency, Governor Kashim Shettima in the last three years and I can tell you that he is the best boss any deputy governor can have in Nigeria. He is so humble, kind, he is good listener and very consultative. He respects me and protects my integrity as his deputy, what more can I ask for from a Governor?

“I am an APC man and a committed one for that matter. My Governor is an APC man and I will support him, together with leaders of the party at the national and state levels, insha Allah, we will move the party to a grand victory at all levels of the 2015 elections in Borno and rest of Nigeria” Mustapha said.

Speaking on the APC congresses at the state and national levels, the deputy governor said “it is God that gives power to anyone and it is also He that takes it or deny it to anyone.”