Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, yesterday appealed to the people of his state not to assault President Goodluck Jonathan who is visiting Maiduguri, the state capital, today to campaign for his re-election.
The governor in a statement signed by his spokesman, Isa Gusau urged residents of Maiduguri not to allow the ugly incidents that occurred in Katsina and Bauchi states recently where the president’s motorcade was pelted, repeat.
Shettima who is the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state said, though his party is the popular choice of the people of the state, the president deserves due respect.
“From what I have read or heard in the media, there has not been any issue of such in any APC controlled states visited by the President and Borno should not be an exception. We have political differences and our differences are legitimate and based on the principles of our political parties and what we stand for.
“But we must remember that His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as citizens of this country, we have an obligation to respect his office and person.
“Our millions of citizens supporting the APC in Borno State and our presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and anyone that supports me or any of our National and State Assembly candidates in the state, should shun any act of violence, intolerance and unlawful political behaviour before, during and after the president’s visit and should remain law abiding citizens as our laws, norms and values demand,” he stated.