TROUBLE IN THE #ISTANDWITHBUHARIGROUP

Maryam Shettima, the National Coordinator of #IStandWithBuhari group, says the recent activities of her members has shown that she is surrounded by "petty elements whose approach to issues is without depth and never intellectual or deeply thought out."

She said this in a Facebook post, a few hours ago, while reacting to the recent statement issued by the group, renouncing Shettima as their national coordinator.

In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, Ms. Shettima said that the group has been lying by omission. She questioned the credibility of the group and accused them of merely using her personality to curry favors.

She insinuated that the group might be using their affiliation with the president for personal gain but said she has never gained any monetary benefit from the group.

"Credibility has always been a question there. What are they really up to?" she queried.

Maryam Shetty and President Muhammadu Buhari

She also said it was necessary for her to dissociate herself from the group because she felt sidelined and because of the pressure many people.

She told SaharaReporters that she is not in total support of the protest by Innocent Idibia, also known as Tuface. However, she insisted that the group has no right to organize a knee-jerk counter rally. Adding that every citizen has the right to protest in a democratic society.

Yesterday, she dissociated herself from a proposed counter-rally to be organized against a major protest planned by Tuface. Shettima announced that she would not be part of any protest purportedly organized by the pro-Buhari group.

"To set the record straight, I wish to categorically state that I am neither aware of a counter-rally organized by the group coming up in support of Mr. President nor would I be supportive or part of it, " she said.

This brought harsh criticism on the coordinator by members of the group. A statement was subsequently released on the group's Facebook page to denounce Shettima.

"This is to inform the general public that Maryam Shetty is not the National Coordinator of #iStandWithBuhari, and does not in any way speak for/on behalf of the movement, officially or unofficially."

The statement read.

The group went further to say Shettima has been relieved of her position since last year, adding that a new board which Shettima is not part of now manages the affairs of the group.

The group said; "All former existing structures of the organization were dissolved last year, which included all individuals previously appointed on acting capacities. #iStandWithBuhari is currently managed administratively by a duly constituted board, of which Maryam Shetty is not a member. We however continually appreciate her for her services during her short tenure in an acting capacity for the movement".

Shettima insisted that she remains the national coordinator of the group, having not been formally told otherwise.

"I remember vividly while I was to be appointed the Acting National Coordinator of the group #istandwithbuhari, I was desperately approached personally and formally. To my utter consternation and disgust, however, I am yet to be personally and officially notified of my disengagement." Shettima posted on her wall

She went further to say that her plans for the group are more than organizing rallies; "I want something more concrete and meaningful. You will have to have something enormously beneficial to offer the nation. My calling is definitely higher than merely organizing a rally to counter a protest. We are meant for greater things and will keep in line with those in sha Allah" she said

Shettima reaffirmed her support for president Buhari and her confident in his administration.

Also, last year, the presidency through, Shehu Garba, dissociated itself from the group. The presidency warned that the persons behind the #Istandwithbuhari group should stop using President Muhammadu Buhari's name and that of his wife, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari to promote themselves and their activities.