Battle for Nigeria: North launches attack on Monday

•Northern govs to storm confab

•We’re ready for them —Southern leaders

A major confrontation between Northern and Southern political leaders may take place in Abuja on Monday unless a plan by governors from the North to storm Abuja that day against the national conference is called off.

A competent source told Saturday Tribune on Friday that following a meeting held by certain leaders of the North, including the governors, on Thursday evening in Abuja, a decision to reverse all major decisions taken during the week by the conference was arrived at by the North.

Already, the source said that while the North strategised on the plan, which has been described as a major onslaught against the South, leaders of thought in the South also spent the better part of Friday planning their own counter-offensive.

“They (northern leaders) decided at their meeting that decisions that upheld Nigeria as a federation should be reopened and defeated. Some of these decisions are on entrenching true federalism and creation of new states, particularly an additional one for the South East. The confab approved that local government creation should strictly be the responsibility of states; that local governments should no longer be a basis for revenue allocation from the Federation Account and that only states and the Federal Government be sharing revenue from the Federation Account.

“We also agreed on having state police and for each state to have its own constitution as obtained during the First Republic and in all countries practising federalism. They (the north) were part of these decisions and it is a surprise that they are plotting to cause a major conflict at the conference on Monday and seek to bring down this country,” the source said.

Afenifere spokesman and a delegate to the conference, Mr Yinka Odumakin, who also confirmed that he had heard of the plan by the northern governors to storm Abuja over those decisions of the conference, said the South was ready for them.

“We understand they are coming to Abuja on Monday to mobilise their delegates  and induce others against certain decisions but the South is ready for them.

“The South is ready for them and we will engage them eyeball for eyeball. The South is a bloc now; our leaders are set for them. The North, over the years, has behaved as if it owned the country. No section of this country has the right to dictate to any other. These northern governors and their leaders should know that yesterday ended at 12 midnight. This is a new day in Nigeria. Anyone who is living in the past should wake up now to the realities of today’s Nigeria,” Odumakin stressed.

Northern minority groups kick
Saturday Tribune also gathered that an even bigger shocker awaits the Northern governors and their delegates, as their colleagues from the minority ethnic groupings in the North have dissociated themselves from the planned onslaught which may include a walkout designed to crash the confab.

Though the affected minorities’ representatives attended a meeting called by the Northern delegates’ leadership, headed by Professor Awwal Yadudu and Bashir Dalhatu on Thursday, they reportedly had their own separate meeting where it was resolved that they would distance themselves from the decision of the core Northern delegates on Monday.

The Northern delegates’ meeting took place immediately the conference rose at 3.30 pm on Thursday.

The meeting, which took place at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), venue of the conference, was reportedly coordinated by Yadudu, the former Legal Adviser to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha; and Dalhatu, who is rumoured to be interested in Jigawa governorship election next year.

A source at the meeting, who is also a Northern delegate, told Saturday Tribune that the Northern delegates rejected the decisions taken at the Thursday plenary on the allegation that they were arrived at against the spirit of the conference guidelines.

They claimed that the guidelines stipulate that where consensus could not be reached on issues by delegates, there should be voting – which they claimed was not observed during the approval for state creation and local government delisting in the constitution.

“It was subsequently agreed at the meeting that a ‘Point of Order’ should be raised on Monday for a reversal; and if such is not granted, it was resolved that all Northern delegates should walk out of the conference and not return until the decisions are reversed. It was reasoned that South-South delegates walked out in 2005 to a great effect and same tactic should be adopted,” the source disclosed.

The source, however, noted that the Northern delegates might be up for the greatest embarrassment of their lives, because “almost all our brothers from the North-Central have resolved not to join the walkout. Delegates from the minority ethnic groupings in the core North have pledged their total support to seeing the conference out.

“With the calculations on ground, there will be more than the required two-thirds of the delegates participating in subsequent proceedings even if the walkout takes place. Where would that leave us? Justice Kutigi is also not supportive of the plan to create crisis for the conference. We wait to see how it goes on Monday,” he said.

A delegate from the minority North told Saturday Tribune that it would amount to sheer madness to support the core North on the walkout agenda when the new states to be created  would be ending their several years of domination and subjugation by the core North.

“The so-called North is on its own. This is the time for our liberation. No northern agenda will stop that. We would have joined if they had been sincere; but they are not. It was a lie that there was no voting. There was voting. There was a ‘voice vote’. The ‘aye’s and ‘nay’s is a voting process. We had that on Thursday,” he said.

Viewed 1 times
Battle for Nigeria: North launches attack on Monday

Maku lambasts Northern governors for lack of cooperation against terrorism

By Ehi Ekhator

Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information has attacked the governors of the 19 states in the north, saying that they have allowed the Boko Haram to wax strong in the zone because they are not doing enough to win the war.

The Minister disclosed this while briefing the state house correspondent after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. According to Maku, the meeting discussed deeply, the recent bombing in Jos and Kano.

Kano said that instead of criticizing the Federal Government, the governors should mobilise their people to join the war against terror in the states.

He said “It is not the weaknesses of the armed forces, it is the same way the Americans are getting frustrated in Afghanistan. If the terrorist they were to stand against the Nigerian armed forces, they will not last 30 minutes and will be completely destroyed”

“Every Governor of the 19 northern states must reorganize its people to monitor people at the grass root or local level. Until we have every state government determined to organize its people in terms of information gathering, we may not be able to defeat terror” he warned.

The minister revealed that lack of cooperation from the governors of the majorly affected states have led to the poor results achieved from the emergency declaration.

” We have not seen this preparation going on, if we did this, Chibok would not have occurred. If we are organizing our people, I believe we would have defeated terror by now. You need the cooperation of every little unit to expose these people who are terrorizing the people”

“The entire north must prepare its traditional rulers, each village heads, each religious leaders and the people to create the necessary synergy and mobilize the people against Boko Haram”

“We need to speak with one voice against terrorism. But the right political mobilization must be put in place and I think that this is what the media should support”

“When people tell you that because we have send troops we can win the war, it is not true. It is a war between a few ideologically programmed individuals. You need the right networking. We do not have to wait a long time if we do what we are supposed to do and without this cooperation, these people may continue to waste more blood”

“If we destroy our armed forces, we do not have alternatives. These are the people being killed daily and they are doing a lot for this country. These are people whose children are being turned into orphans. This is a gorilla warfare and we believe that Nigerians can help to win it if we prepare ourself and organized our self to defeat terrorism by mobilizing our people to give information about the terrorists”

“The objective of terror group is to divide the opinion of Nigerians, put fears into the people and get them disunited and we need to understand that politic aside, we must unit to fight this terror.”

“It is the Nigerian efforts that can bring this terror to an end. We need every religious leader to be able to speak to their people”

The Information Minister said it is important for Nigerians to appreciate that terrorism “is not a war of one religion against the other. It is a war against all Nigerians and we believe that evil will never prevail over this country. We condemn the bombing of innocent people who had no disagreement with them”

Speaking on the forthcoming third anniversary of President Jonathan’s administration, Maku said the occassion would used to highlight the achievements of government since the return to democratic rule.

The minister said  “but for the sad violence in parts of the North, this country would have seen the best managed economy in the history of this nation. One thing that evil will not succeed in doing is that it will not distract government from the development of this country. They may try to distract us but they will never succeed”

 

Maku lambasts Northern governors for lack of cooperation against terrorism

Boko Haram to be stamped out in 3 months – Northern governors

*U.S army came to assist because of the meeting with held in Washington – Gov. Aliyu

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) on Saturday said all elements of the Boko Haram terrorists group would be stamped out within three months.

MEETING—From left: Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Garba Umar, Acting Governor of Taraba, during their visit to Borno State, yesterday. Photo: Sahara Reporters

Gov. Babangida Aliyu, Chairman of the forum, said this in an address at a joint Northern States Governors/United States investors’ summit held in Abuja.

“Contrary to insinuations that leaders in the region failed to openly condemn the rascality of the terrorists, we have instead worked subtly to see to the end of the insurgents.

“The coming of the United States’ army to rescue the abducted Chibok school girls was as a result of the meeting the northern governors held with the American Government.

“The 19 governors that make up this forum would continue to condemn the invasion of the north and we are happy with the Federal Government.

“The group is equally happy with United States, Britain, France, China and Canada which have offered support to tackle the insurgents,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, said the summit was organised to accelerate the socioeconomic development of the north and the country as a whole.

It said that, the symposium organised by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and NSGF between March 17 and March 19 in Washington laid the foundation for the summit and partnership with investors.

The communiqué, which was signed Gov. Aliyu, said strengthening relations between the entire northern governors through the summit was the right recipe for the development of the area.

“The summit addresses the issues of concern to the people of the region, and particularly the challenges faced by some states presently plagued by poverty, youth unemployment and insurgency.

“It seeks to act as vehicle through which the NSGF attracts partnership with the international investment community and aid agencies to assist in rebuilding, reconstructing and rehabilitating the north,’’ it said.

According to the communiqué, the courage and confidence reposed in the region in the face of enormous insecurity challenges in the country was well-known.

It said the summit would complement the gains of the just concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) for Africa and the far reaching initiatives of the Federal Government to develop the country.

It, called on all investors to have confidence in the opportunities that abound in the region, adding that the deficit found in region should be a motivating factor to invest.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was organised by NSGF in conjunction with the Nigerian Embassy in Washington.

General Electric (GE), Brambles, USAID, Milhouse Engineering, Manchester Trade, World Bank, Blumber Grains and African World Export were some of the companies that attended the summit.

All the 19 governors made presentations highlighting areas of respective states’ potentials and available opportunities for investors to note. (NAN)

 

Boko Haram to be stamped out in 3 months – Northern governors

Abducted girls and the recalcitrance of North-East governors

IN the last few weeks, the issue of the abduction of nearly 200 students of a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State has been largely politicised. Rarely are the real mothers of the girls seen these days on television as some really concerned women and opportunists have taken the centre stage and relishing the attendant publicity, while the parents have been pushed to the background.

MEETING—From left: Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Garba Umar, Acting Governor of Taraba, during their visit to Borno State, yesterday. Photo: Sahara Reporters

But at least some measure of good is coming from the situation as a stakeholders’ meeting by First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has come up with a startling revelation that the recalcitrance of Governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State may have inadvertently left the nation with this nauseating situation.

Head of the Nigerian Office of the West African Examination Council, WAEC, Charles Eguridu, told the stakeholders gathered with Mrs Jonathan that the ground for the abduction of the girls was laid after its request to the state governments for the relocation of the examination centre was ignored. His story: “When we made that representation (letter) to the three affected states, none of them responded to the honourable minister’s request.

“We followed it up and I directed my zonal coordinator in Borno State in particular, to liaise with the Ministry of Education in Borno State, and the response we got was so disheartening. We were told that they had security in place for the candidates and that we should come and conduct the examination in the schools and that they were not ready to relocate their students from Chibok and other areas to Maiduguri or nearby locations where security agencies could provide security.

“They said if we failed to conduct the examinations, the world would blame us. And so at great risk, my officers went to Chibok and conducted the examinations. After the unfortunate incident in which the students were said to have been abducted, our staff now got a response from the state that they were then ready to relocate the remaining students to another place called Ubah. And, as I speak, 189 candidates are continuing with the examination in Ubah.”

While the most important move now is to get our daughters back home to us, away from the wicked and ravenous wolves that keep them, it is about time someone told the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of these three states that while they may choose to play politics over other matters, they should not do it at the risk of the lives of our children. In addition, political gymnastics with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, controlled Federal Government may be acceptable in some circumstances, but playing politics with a sub-regional agency is the basest of political behaviour. See where it has led the state government. And who is to say the Borno State government is not to blame?

While this is not the best of times for blame-sharing, it has become increasingly clear that the Federal Government should cease wanting to do what is politically correct and impose full and comprehensive emergency rule in the three states of the North East, more so when the governors are intemperate.

Away from irresponsible leaders, the Federal Government should bring to bear its mighty weight upon the French-colonised countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad. A few oil deals the way of France may work the wonders that is required to bend France over backwards, while a strong message is delivered to these countries like General Muhammadu Buhari did in the early 80s when a similar group toyed with our territorial integrity. That bloody nose still remains fresh in the mind of our neighbours and a reiteration of our capacity to do it on a larger scale is needed at this time so that enemies without and within will know better not to mess with the Federal Government.

Still on the matter of the kidnapped girls, it is a wonder that those who claim to be our international friends with all the technology in space were oblivious of the movement of the fanatics who moved around and captured 200 girls and redistributed them across countries as it has been claimed in some quarters. Friends, indeed! Also, while contributing to debates on the floor of the National Assembly, lawmakers regaled the nation with the activities of the so-called Boko Haram operatives, including how they were marrying the abducted girls. It makes you wonder how they know so much so soon.

Moreover, how come our daughters are escaping from the insurgents when it appears the army is helpless. So, what exactly is going on in Borno State?

By JOSEPHINE BABATUNDE,a public affairs commentator, wrote Lagos.

 

Abducted girls and the recalcitrance of North-East governors

Nyako blasts Jonathan for blaming northern governors over Insecurity in the north

The governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, on Sunday said President Goodluck Jonathan, had once again demonstrated a lack of humility in his approach to issues.

Nyako was reacting to comments made by the President during the North-East rally of the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday.

Jonathan had accused governors of the North-East for abdicating their responsibility of educating youths in their states. This, he said, was largely responsible for the Boko Haram menace.

In a response which was made public by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Ahmad Sajo, Nyako said it was unfortunate that the President has chosen once again, to blame everybody but himself, things going wrong with his government.

He said the decision of the President to shift blame to governors, is not a mark of good leadership.

He said, “We also wish to draw the attention of the President to the fact that over 800 classroom blocks were destroyed in Borno state.

“Over 2000 classroom blocks were destroyed in Yobe State including those belonging to the Federal Government. Recently some classrooms were destroyed in Adamawa State as well.

“Several Schools were damaged and closed down in the affected states including Federal Government Colleges even though the President said his government has no responsibility for Secondary Education.

“The President’s persistent refusal to visit the affected states could be interpreted to mean an abdication of his constitutional responsibility to cater for the welfare and safety of the people of the zone. If he could go to Bauchi on a political jamboree, why not visit Borno and Yobe as part of his constitutional responsibility?”

The governor said if there is any proof of bad governance, it will be located in the way and manner the President executes his priorities and the kind of statements he and his spokespersons make.

Governors, he said, are not and cannot be held responsible for security challenges since they have no control over security apparatus.

“The President is the Commander-in-Chief with powers over the Armed Forces, Police and other security agencies. On the issue of education, the President is either being mislead or is totally ignorant,” he said.

Nyako equally explained that, the name Boko Haram was coined by the Media in response to University graduates destroying their certificates in the very city of Bauchi where he made the latest statement. So it is not about University Education.

The Adamawa State governor also challenged President Jonathan to tell the world what his administration has done to improve Adamawa State since he assumed office.

He noted that his administration (re) constructed all the Federal Roads in our State, built the Nigerian Law School, built structures for the Army, Police and other security Agencies including the Prison Headquarters. These, he pointed out, are all responsibilities of the Federal Government.

He urged the President to check the records of Adamawa State at the Universal Basic Education Commission, since 2010 to see the level of commitment the Nyako administration has been to education.

The governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, however said he does not want to join issues with the President.

His Special Adviser on Media, Malam Isa Gusau explained 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.”

The Yobe State governor, Ibrahim Geidam, could not be reached for comments. Attempts to reach his Director of Press, Malam Abdullahi Bego were also unsuccessful as his mobile telephone number indicated that it was switched off. A text message sent to him returned undelivered.

Nyako blasts Jonathan for blaming northern governors over Insecurity in the north

Blame no one but governors for insecurity in the north, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday indicted some unnamed state governors in the north-eastern part of the country over the spate of insecurity in the zone that has left hundreds of people dead.

He said the unnamed governors who turn around to attribute the violence to bad leadership failed in their responsibility of providing basic primary and secondary education for the children.

He said the uneducated children who form an army of unemployed and unemployable youths are now tools in the hands of miscreants who feed and arm them to kill innocent citizens.

Jonathan spoke at the Peoples Democratic Party’s North East Unity Rally held in Bauchi, Bauchi State.

He said while the Federal Government was doing its part by providing tertiary education to teeming Nigerian youths, state governments must also play their roles and stop pointing accusing fingers at him.

He said he played his role well to end insecurity in Bayelsa State when he was the deputy governor and the state governor, hence he expected state governors to play their roles too.

He added that north-eastern states had lost more people than any other part of the country in the violence orchestrated by the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram because people refused to do the right thing.

Meanwhile, Jonathan  on Saturday also said the problems of youth restiveness and insecurity within the African continent might have been caused  by “external forces” working against the progress of the region.

Jonathan was not specific on what he meant by “external forces” but stated however, that the growth which the continent had recorded within the last few years might be a major reason for people who are envious of the region to cause instability.

He stated these in Abuja at the opening session of the Seventh joint annual meetings of the Economic Commission of Africa conference of African ministers of finance, planning and economic development and the African Union conference of ministers of economy and finance.

In a related development, the Katsina State Government said it had concluded arrangements to convene a special security meeting with neighbouring Zamfara on ways to fight crime and attacks on villages.

Gov. Ibrahim Shema said this at a meeting with his Zamfara counterpart, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari, at the Government House in Gusau.

He expressed concerns over increasing criminal activities, where large number of heavily armed hoodlums invaded villages, maimed and killed several community members. (0)

Blame no one but governors for insecurity in the north, says Jonathan

"Jonathan’s government is behind Boko Haram – Northern Governors tell Obama"

 

During a meeting between twelve Northern Governors, and key officials of President Obama’s cabinet, several governors belonging to the platform of the All Progressives Congress told U.S officials that the Jonathan administration was suspected by them to be aiding the insurgents causing terror in the North.

The startling accusation is said to have caused Prof Ade Adefuye, the Nigerian ambassador to the United States to come to the defense of the GEJ administration but not before the damage had already been done.

Guardian reports:

WITH top U.S. government officials, including President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser, Ms. Susan Rice, who was presiding, the issue of Boko Haram, 2015 elections and corruption among the Nigerian political elite became a hot debate at the White House earlier last week.

A meeting of 12 Northern State governors (and a deputy governor) and the US government on Tuesday in Washington DC took a dramatic turn when some of the governors, especially Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, initiated a frontal attack on President Goodluck Jonathan, forcing the Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ade Adefuye, who was also in attendance, to join the fray, objecting to some of the comments against the President and the Federal Government.

Although Nyako was said to be the most vocal, he was not alone in raising critical views about the president and his policies, as the Borno and Kano State Governors also knocked hard on the Jonathan presidency.

The meeting was organised by the US government, through the US Institute of Peace, with a view to exploring how the Americans can work together with state governments in the North to address the Boko Haram insurgency and the underlying problem of socio-economic under-development in the region.

Present at the meeting in the Washington DC were governors Nyako (Adamawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara).

Others are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Idris Wada (Kogi), Usman Dakingari (Kebbi) and Prof. Ade Adefuye.

In attendance on the US side (in addition to Rice) were: Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Adviser (United States Institute of Peace), Mr. Grant Harris, Special Adviser to President Obama on Africa, Mr. John Mohr – Senior Staff Member – National Security Council and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Authoritative sources disclosed to The Guardian that Nyako, a former PDP governor, who switched camp to the APC, raised very sensitive issues, including allegations that the Federal Government failed to block importation of weapons into the country; weapons, which are being used to fuel the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nyako also alleged that federal security agencies were colluding with backers of Boko Haram to perpetuate the conflict in the North. He said such security agencies were the ones facilitating the clearance of arms and ammunitions through the border and transporting same to the terrorists.

The Adamawa State governor, who was said to have caused a grim silence by his allegations at the White House meeting, also claimed that the Jonathan presidency refused to identify Boko Haram sponsors despite arrest of some of the members.

He cited particular instances where the military JTF were withdrawn in some of the locations in the three states where the terrorists’ activities have been intense, just in time for the terrorists to attack those locations. According to Governor Nyako, he was convinced that information was being passed from the security agencies to help the terrorists.

But Nyako’s main allegation was the motive behind the alleged collusion, which he said is a way to reduce the voting power of the North East in 2015 and subsequent polls, and keep the region perpetually underdeveloped.

It took the spirited response of the Nigerian Ambassador to the USA, Adefuye, and some of the other governors to halt Nyako’s allegations. Sources said Adefuye challenged Nyako to provide evidence for his allegations, and tongue-lashed him for playing politics of 2015 at the meeting.

Adefuye “did not take kindly to the allegations,” and the fact that the meeting was used by Nyako in particular to attack President Jonathan and the Federal Government, sources disclosed.

The source said the Ambassador “had to call Nyako to order,” and even sought the intervention of the organisers and other participants to ensure that the meeting did not turn into a forum to “wash Nigeria’s linen in public.” Sources said hot heads cooled after the Ambassador’s intervention.

Besides the Ambassador, the Governor of Kogi also opposed Nyako, especially explaining that the examples the Adamawa governor gave regarding how JTF people retreated from a location just before Boko Haram attacked were just coincidental.

Other Governors, who were critical over the Boko Haram issue, included the Borno Governor, Shettima, who also criticised the President and the Federal Government’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. However, Shettima also hoped that the insurgency would soon abate, urging for accelerated developmental projects in the affected states.

All the while, the US officials, including Rice, the NSA, kept listening, according to sources. Only few weeks ago, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield, publicly challenged the Nigerian government to expose the backers of Boko Haram.

Governors of Kano and Gombe, however, also had a “fight” over the issue of corruption in Nigeria at the White House meeting when the Gombe Governor said the issue of corruption among Nigeria’s political elite is thriving because if a politician is accused of corruption all he has to do is to join the opposition party. Taking this as a direct personal attack, the Kano State Governor responded in annoyance that he did not leave PDP for APC because of corruption charges.

$20bn NNPC unremitted funds still missing from the Federation Account. Mr. President, what are you doing about it?

(0)

"Jonathan’s government is behind Boko Haram – Northern Governors tell Obama"

13 Northern governors seek help in Washington against Boko Haram

Thirteen governors of the North are in the United States searching for help against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Northern governors in WashingtonThey met yesterday for eight hours at the United States Peace Institute and the State Department in Washington DC. with U.S. government officials and representatives of Norway and Denmark.

Details of the first round of the closed-door meeting, which was sponsored by the U.S. government in collaboration with the governments of Norway and Denmark, could not be obtained last night.

The meetings are expected to continue till tomorrow.

The Peace Institute said the biggest issue discussed was how Nigeria could overcome the Boko Haram insurgency, especially through education and economic investments.

Other issues discussed included re-invigorating the U.S. attention on the north, economic investment opportunities in the region, security and challenges of private investments in the region.

The governors were reportedly given time to dialogue among themselves on the way out of Boko Haram.

Among the governors in attendance were Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Kashim Shetttima (Borno) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) (Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano). (0)

13 Northern governors seek help in Washington against Boko Haram

Enough for Boko Haram - Northern governors

ABUJA—Alarmed by the wanton destruction of lives and property by Boko Haram insurgents, governors in the North-East zone of the country, yesterday, declared that ‘enough is enough’ even as they launched moves to dialogue with the terrorists and end the orgy of violence in the region.

MEETING—From left: Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Garba Umar, Acting Governor of Taraba, during their visit to Borno State, yesterday. Photo: Sahara Reporters

To achieve this objective, the governors of Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe states, yesterday, met for several hours in Gombe and mapped out measures aimed at appeasing the sect members to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

Mallam Isa Yuguda,  Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo and Alhaji Garba Umar, first met in Gombe and resolved to do whatever is necessary to reach out to the sect members and explore the possibility of convincing them to come to the negotiation table.

The meeting resolved that it would be better to dialogue with the terrorists than using force.

The governors said the terrorists are so set in their ways that they cannot easily be dislodged with force.

They also reasoned that as governors, who were elected to protect lives and property, it was incumbent on them to take whatever measures possible to end the cycle of violence that is fast destroying the economy of the North and its environs.

In particular, the governors resolved that the incessant killings being orchestrated by insurgents especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa must stop so that peace could be restored to the region.

The governors, who condemned the menace of Boko Haram argued that it would spread to other parts of the country and become a national problem if not checkmated.

Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, who initiated the meeting, told Vanguard that they had to take action to put an end to the violence in the North-East so that the economy and the safety of the people were not put in permanent jeopardy.

Yuguda said: “As leaders, who have sworn to protect the lives and property of our citizens, we owe it a duty to take necessary measures to save our people in times of threat such as we have been witnessing in recent times.

“We have resolved to come up with strategies that would rebuild the destroyed areas and give hope and succour to our people over time.”

Yuguda appealed to members of the sect to stop the carnage, as according to him, there is no religion that preaches violence or for someone to take another person’s life.

“For Allah’s sake, we are appealing to whoever is behind the wanton killings and destruction of property in the region to stop, and let us sit down and chart the way forward to ensure that peace and unity return to the North-East in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

“We are, therefore, looking forward that in the next few weeks, our young ones who have been perpetrating such deadly act will come forward so that we will collectively talk on how to iron out our differences,” Yuguda appealed.

After meeting in Gombe, the three governors later moved to Maiduguri, where they met and commiserated with their Borno State counterpart, Alhaji Kashim Shettima on the series of attacks in the state, which had claimed thousands of lives and property in recent times.

The Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the victims of the terrorist attacks in the region and for the restoration of peace.

Responding, Governor Shettima expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their visit to him and the people of the affected communities in the state.

“On behalf of myself, my family and the people of Borno State, we will remain ever grateful for this visit and the support you have personally and collectively rendered to us since the beginning of this Boko Haram crisis,” Shettima said.

 

Enough for Boko Haram - Northern governors

Don"t be frustrated over Boko Haram, says Northern governors

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF)  has urged  inhabitants of the troubled states of the North East region of the country not to despair over the persistence of attacks on them by members of Boko Haram.

The forum predicted that the end to the insurgency, senseless killing and unwanton destruction would soon come.

The forum through its Chairman who is also Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu urged all stakeholders to continue to pray to God to end the scourge of what they described as “senseless killing of defenceless citizens”.

Reacting to the Saturday’s explosions which killed several persons at the heavily populated Ngomari-Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri, Borno State in a statement by the forum’s Chairman’s spokesman, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the forum urged the perpetrators of the dastardly act to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue.

The statement reads, : “The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) condemns the murderous terrorist attack which killed several persons at the heavily populated Ngomari-Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri, Borno State.

“The forum deeply regrets this utterly heinous descent to new depths of terror by the perpetrators at a time when security agencies are doing their best to put an end to the scourge of senseless killing of defenceless citizens”.

The forum then urged members of the dreaded Boko Haram to embrace dialogue, saying “it is the surest way to resolve grievances is through dialogue and not violence”.

The forum commiserated with the families of those killed or injured during the blast and called on all security agencies to re-double their efforts in the discharge of their responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of the citizens. (0)

Don"t be frustrated over Boko Haram, says Northern governors