President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that the Federal Government was adopting a new security architecture to end the Boko Haram insurgency, farmers/herdsmen crisis and other security challenges. He did not elaborate.
Stressing that the government, through the National Security Adviser (NSA), is tackling the issues, he said the Northcentral is PDP’s.
He said: “The security personnel are moving in to strengthen the conventional security, that is the police. But we are working very hard with the NSA, office to make sure that the security challenges that we have across the country, whether in Borno State or the kidnapping in Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia and so on.
“We are coming up with different architecture that will deal with this insurgence. As we progress, we will begin to bring the situation under control.”
Disclosing that litigations have been delaying the privatisation of Ajaokuta steel project, he promised that the issues will soon be resolved.
Jonathan said: “Of course, on Ajaokuta, the key thing is that we had some challenges with the privatisation process. The people that got it said there were some issues but because of these litigations, the project was held down.
“And all along, we have been trying one way or the other but the project cannot take off very effectively because we want the private sector to come in robustly, but they will find it difficult, except the legal issues are sorted out.
“So, what the AGF is saying is that the issues are being sorted out because without mines and steel, the nation cannot industrialise. Yes; you can import but it’s easier when you are producing locally because we believe that Ajaokuta will be one of the bedrock of our industrialisation programme. So, it is a project that is dear to anybody who wants to move this country forward.”
Stressing that the north central is known for solid minerals and provides food and power for Nigeria, among other things, the President said: “We thank you for this solidarity visit and for giving us a Senate president that has been able to stabilise the National Assembly.”
On the Governors’ Forum crisis, Jonathan said: “The governors from the zone who have been stabilizing the country because the way some of the governors talk and behave, if 50 percent of the governors behave that way, probably, we would have vacated this place and allowed others to come and manage it for us. But they have been able to help to stabilise the whole country. When the Governors Forum became a monster and we had a lot of challenges, it was the North Central that came on board to stabilise the Governors’ Forum.”
“So, the zone has been able to produce very great leaders, not just great leaders, but they are patriotic leaders. So, we will continue to work with this zone, we will continue to encourage you. As we approach elections next year, let us know the problems on time; we will work with you to ensure PDP continues to maintain the zone,” he said
Speaking on behalf of the governors from the zone, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam urged the Federal Government to tackle the farmers/Fulani crisis, noting that the Fulani fermenting the trouble are not the normal ones as they are carrying sophisticated weapons and well-trained to kill.
According to him, once the Northcentral is destabilised, all the other zones will be easily destabilised.
Pointing out that the crisis needs to be brought under control as the 2015 general election is fast approaching, he expressed worries that since the Fulani attacks in the zone, nobody has been arrested.
He said: “The security situation in the Northcentral. Virtually all the states in the zone are affected by the activities of the ‘herdsmen’ in quote. We believe that it’s not just the Fulani herdsmen that are doing what they are doing in the zone, but some insurgents who are camouflaging as Fulani men.
“Because the Fulani men that will all know and we have lived with them – some of them are part and parcel of the Northcentral. We know that they carry sticks, and at times, few of them carry den guns to catch bush meat for Tiv people.”
“But Mr. President, what we have witnessed lately are well trained people who are trained to kill and destroy and the manner of destruction is so massive and is unimaginable. The Northcentral is very worried. The state mostly affected are Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue. That is not to say that other states are not affected,” Suswam said.
Even as he said that he cannot claim ignorant of the efforts the President is making to address security issues in the country, he said that he had to call for special attention for the Northcentral zone because of its stabilising factor.
“The reason being that if the Northcentral is disorganised, Mr. President you are disorganised because that is where you have your stability and so whatever it will take Mr. President to address the security challenges that we have in the Northcentral.”
“You have just directed the military to move in; they have started moving in between Nasarawa and Benue. As of last night, there was a lot of security movement between Benue and Nasarawa state and we hope that the same thing will be applicable in Plateau State because the state has had a longer history of this than any one of us.”
“Mr President, what has worried us as governors who are also leaders is that inspite of the magnitude of destruction, no one person has been arrested and these destroyers move in large numbers. We are worried that without appropriate sanctions, they will continue with impunity because once people are not sanctioned, they don’t take that serious and I think the appropriate example must be shown.”
“Mr President, how these people get their arms, because they are carrying very sophisticated weapons, is also an issue that we are worried about and I believe that Mr. President is also very worried because all of us swore to the constitution to protect lives and property.”
The Senate President, Senator David Mark, maintained that the North Central zone remained essential to the stability of Jonathan’s administration and that is why some unscrupulous people want to destabilise the zone, using insecurity.
He promised the President maximum support from the Northcentral zone, especially from the National Assembly which he heads despite the antics of those he called “rebels” in the House.
“We cannot betray you, our word is our bond. We want you to trust us because we trust you. All we want is mutual confidence and so far, you have shown it,” he said
Mark promised that the huge electoral support Jonathan got from North central in 2011 will be repeated in 2015.
Ali said that the PDP Northcentral remained proud of him and praised him for what he had been doing for the zone.
Declaring that the zone will continue to support Jonathan in elections, Ali urged Jonathan to find solution to the challenges hindering the Ajaokuta Steel Complex from contributing to national development.
He also canvassed for the establishment of a solid minerals development commission for the zone.
PDP Chairman Adamu Muazu noted that the PDP would continue to wax stronger in the zone. He said the Northcentral would give the party 100% support, especially towards the 2015 general election.
On the delegation were Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang and Kogi State Governor Idrus Wada.
Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris, former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, Senator Tunde Ogbeha and Senator Khariat Gwadabe.
Many cabinet members from the zone were also present.
New ‘security architecture’ to end Boko Haram, other security challenges
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