I’ll invest more energy in job creation – Shettima

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Friday promised to invest more energies in job creation, lamenting that the current level of unemployment has turned many energetic youths into “political trekkers.”

The governor gave this promise in his inaugural speech shortly after he took the oaths of office and allegiance alongside his deputy, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri.

The governor taking the oaths, administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah, said, “We are seriously worried by the throng of unemployed youths in Borno State. An idle and desperate mind is often vulnerable to external manoeuvre.”

Shettima, who said though he did not mean to disrespect some Nigerian youths that invented a new way of celebration by embarking on long distance trekking, noted that lack of employment provided the time and environment for embarking on such exercise.

The governor said, “I really do not think any youth that is gainfully employed could have embarked on trekking for weeks. For me, I have taken note of two messages from these trekkers. The first message is a strong and bold reminder that there are no jobs for the youths in Nigeria.

“The second, which I consider more seriously, is that Nigerian youths have the courage and strength to do what many leaders never thought they could do. If youths can trek from one state to another, it means they have potential for good use while they have strength to revolt like Lions in the event they are pushed to the wall.

“We must create jobs for Nigerian youths.”

He said this year’s Democracy Day celebration was a moment of hope for the people of his state and Nigerians following the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Shettima added that enormous possibilities also lay ahead of the people.

He lamented that Borno residents had suffered untold hardship as a result of Boko Haram menace in the state, alleging that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan did not do enough to save the situation.

I’ll invest more energy in job creation – Shettima