The governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima has said he does not want to join issues with the President following the comments by the President Saturday in Bauhi.
The Special Adviser on Media, Malam Isa Gusau explained to PUNCH that the President must have been misquoted because; he has a grasp of what the issues are.
He said, “If you will recall, the Minister of Special Duties who met some of the Boko Haram members, announced that he conferred with first class graduates among adherents of Boko Haram.
“There are many who dropped out of school to join the Boko Haram, there were graduates among them who tore their certificates.
“So, it is not about education per se. We believe that the President understands the issues and must have been misquoted in this case.”
President Jonathan had in his remarks at the North-East rally of the PDP in Bauchi on Saturday accused governors of the zone of failing to provide leadership for their people.
Jonathan said, “It is shameful for a governor who has stayed in power in his state for up to six years or more, to come to me and talk about bad leadership when you have youth in your state, more than half of whom have not attended primary school and you are doing nothing about it.
“State Governors should be ashamed of themselves when our children do not go to primary and secondary schools and they decide to carry arms.”
Bornu Governor, you are a liar. No Boko Haram member is a good secondary school leaver, not to talk of being a graduate. I am sure none of them went to Primary school. They(BH) told you education is forbidden; you are telling us they some are first class graduate- may be Almajiri graduates. Who knows, you know some of them. You need to be questioned whether you are one of the Boko haram sponsors.