It is no longer news that the former governor of Borno State and serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, has been nominated and unveiled as the running mate to the All Progressive Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
What might, however, be news to those who do not know him well enough is the depth of the man’s passion and love for Nigeria and his inclusive attributes.
From the archives, we share one of the many life changing encounters of Shettima.
Live changing for him and also for the other party to the encounter.
“Fifteen years ago, I went to buy electronics at Emab Plaza Abuja. I saw a man walking in the corridor and when he walked towards me and greeted me, something about him touched my spirit, so I asked what he did for a living.
“He responded that he was a salesman. I was moved to ask for his WAEC result. When he gave it to me, I discovered that it was better than mine. I saw a downtrodden young man that life had beaten to a pulp. I resolved to be the one to give him something to thank God for everyday
“Today, that young man is my adopted son. When I saw promise in him, I didn’t ask for his state of origin or tribe or religion. Non of that mattered to me then, non of that matters to me now. I sponsored his education to the university level. He is now a brilliant software engineer, married to a Jukum woman, the daughter of the current attorney-general of Taraba State. He is headed to the UK for his Ph.D. His name is Paul Ojukwu from Anambra State.
“This is the Nigeria we are talking about, the Nigeria of my dream.” – Kashim Shettima
