2023: Why I Visited APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Shettima – Ezeife Reveals

The chairman of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF), Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife has disclosed why he visited All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima in Borno State.

Naija News recalls that there were controversies among Igbo elders days ago after Ezeife visited Shettima.

It is understood that the division among the members of the organisation was further fuelled by the cancellation of two press conferences earlier scheduled for 1 pm on Tuesday, June 14 and Friday, June 24 2022 at Ezeife’s residence in Asokoro at the last minute, while no explanation was given.

Fingers were pointed at Ezeife as members of the IECF maintained a deafening silence, thereby fuelling more speculation that politicians may have infiltrated its members.

However, in a statement made available to newsmen recently, Ezeife explained that he visited Shettima to assist a businessman whose warehouse was bulldozed by the Borno State Government.

Tinubu Is Too Old To Rule Nigeria

Against speculations of having an alliance with the ruling party, Ezeife said the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu is too old for the office of President of Nigeria.

He stressed that the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the former governor had knocked off his chances.

Ezeife said, “Yes, I went, uninvited, to Shettima, I was accompanied by a Maiduguri-born and brought-up businessman of South-East extraction. Why? More than a year ago, a well-built young man came to my office in Abuja crying desperately. He talked like someone considering suicide! He told me that he was finished, that the clothes on him were the only property left for him. He inherited a hotel from his father and built two more hotels by himself. All three hotels and a warehouse were bulldozed by the Borno State government.

“His other properties were also seized. He had helped the campaign efforts of the current Borno State Governor (Babagana Zulum). He also bought a bus for the campaign. He was directed to come and see me. I made efforts to see the Borno State governor but did not succeed.

“Recently, the young man rushed to my office and told me that Shettima, who handed it over to the current governor can influence him to listen to his (the businessman’s) case and do some justice. He told me that if I met Shettima and pleaded with him, the problem would be solved. He added that Shettima was in town (Abuja) that day.

“That if we went, we would meet him at his Abuja residence. As he saw it, my meeting with Shettima would end his frustration, suffering and threat to his life. I did not give it a second thought because the young man spoke from the depth of his heart. I jumped into the car with him and we headed to where he knew Shettima was.”

Shettima Treated Me With Respect

According to Ezeife, the former Governor of Borno State received him with great respect and did not keep him waiting too long before calling to him for discussion.

He said: “I pleaded with Shetima to appeal to his successor for some justice to be done to the businessman.

“He listened carefully and I was amazed by his positive responses which included a commitment to help the businessman directly by himself if the Governor does not do enough. I was elated and I thanked him profusely.

“As we were leaving the office, Shettima bade me goodbye with a handshake. I did see camera men taking pictures of us. But I knew what I went for. I shall go to anybody who can genuinely help a person in life-threatening distress. There was nothing political in the visit. Truly, I do not consider Shettima an opponent in the 2023 presidential election. Why?

“His principal, Jagaban Tinubu, is really not well. Only people who are not well informed, or have lost sanity, will vote for him to go and die in AsoRock.”

Ezeife noted that before his journey to Shettima’s abode, a representative group of Northern youths had visited him and declared that nobody above 65 years old should contest for the office of the President of Nigeria.

He said the greatest problem of the old is brain power deficiency, especially loses of memory.

The IECF leader added: “I explained this to Yoruba youths who proposed my joining the race for President of Nigeria. Should everything have been alright for the Tinubu ticket, it’s Muslim- Muslim nature knocks it out – removes it from consideration.

“I appeal to Nigerians of every ethnic group and religious faith to bow to the will of the Almighty God, who seems to have taken over from our conscienceless politicians, to bring about a new Nigeria, to rescue Nigeria and revive her destiny – the country to which He poured an abundance of His blessings, making her the very most gifted Country on earth.

“Yes, Ecclesiastes says there is a time and a season for everything under the sun. This appears to be the time and the season for the manifestation of the new Nigeria which must develop to a world superpower, raising the respect and dignity of all blacks on earth and participating in, and improving the leadership of the world. God’s design and will dominate man’s will in, and mess up, of Nigeria.”