Why Nigeria can’t leave Shettima in charge of security

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why Nigeria cannot afford to leave the vice-presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima, in charge of the country’s security.

The PDP Head of Digital, Anthony Ehilebo, said Shettima cannot be in charge of security in Nigeria because of his antecedents, adding that the former governor was in charge of Borno State when the issue of the Chibok girls happened.

Ehilebo spoke when he appeared on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Sunday.

Shettima had said at the just-concluded National Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that he would oversee security while his principal, Bola Tinubu, would oversee the economy if elected as Nigeria’s next president and vice-president.

“How come you come to the NBA programme and announce on live TV that you will take care of security and your principal will handle the economy?

“Section 130(2) of the 1999 Constitution specifies that it is the role of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. And if he decides to delegate the power, it must be to the armed forces. But here we have a VP candidate telling the world he wants to be in charge of our security.

“This is the same man in charge when the issue of Chibok girls happened. Shettima ignored the directive to move the students and the terrorists took advantage.

“It is also a fact that a suspected terrorist, Kabiru Sokoto, was arrested in the Governor’s Lodge by the DSS. Today, we have not been able to dissociate him from all that. Unfortunately, Nigerians are more interested in his sneakers and what he wore to the NBA than his statement,” Ehilebo said.