Northern Nigeria a failed region, marked by hypocrisy- Arewa youths

Northern youths have described the northern part of Nigeria as a failed region, heading for extinction but characterised by a high level of hypocrisy and bad leadership.

The youths, who met under the aegis of Arewa Youth Forum in Kaduna on Wednesday to review the state of the nation as part of the activities marking the 2014 Democracy Day, noted with dismay that majority of the northern people had been subjected to constant fear arising from persistent killings and tension.

The youths noted with disappointment that apart from a few of the 19 northern states, the rest were marked by low quality and purposeful governance with an astronomical rise in the embezzlement of public funds by their leaders.

According to a communiqué, which was signed by the President of the AYF, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, and made available to Vanguard on Thursday, the failure of governance in most parts of the region has led to the collapse of the education and health sectors with insecurity holding the entire region to ransom.

They regretted that as a result of rising insecurity, economic activities that once thrived in their local communities had since collapsed, while the level of hatred and animosity between Northern Christians and Muslims had risen.

They also noted that if the security threat to farmers in the area was not immediately arrested, there would be serious food security crisis in the region in no distant time and asked the government to halt what they called the ‘manipulation of major religions in the country ahead of the 2015 election’ instead of working for the interest of the people.

As a way out of the crisis facing the region, AYF suggested that both the Federal and Northern state governments must stop the politicisation of insurgency and pay more serious attention to the problems facing the region to prevent it from failing.

The youths noted: “We insist that the manipulation of religion for political and economic interests by elites to the detriment of our teeming populace must stop forthwith, sincerity, justice and sensitivity to the plights of Northerners irrespective of their differences must be given priority attention by all levels of government.

“We also demand that the ongoing bloodshed must be stopped while the governments must sincerely explore all its constitutional avenues with a view to restoring law and order in all part of the country to bring about peace and development,” AYF said.

Copyright Reserved – Vanguard

 

Northern Nigeria a failed region, marked by hypocrisy- Arewa youths

We have the capacity to crush Boko Haram, says Air Chief

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu has assured that the Nigerian Armed Forces have the capacity to crush the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country as soon as possible.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu

Amosu gave the assurance yesterday while receiving the Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Air Vice Marshal John Ifemeje who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

The Amosu said there is a synergy between his office and that of the Chief of Army Staff, with the view to designing the appropriate approach to effectively counter the onslaught by the rampaging insurgents.

The insurgents have killed dozens of innocent Nigerians, including school children, in a string of attacks launched on soft targets in communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the last two weeks.

A statement yesterday by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Air Force, Air Commodore Yususf Anas, said the Air and Army Chiefs are in constant touch with troops stationed at the troubled states.

The statement added that the troops are in high spirits and inspired to crush the insurgents in record time, adding that the officers and men in the front lines are being motivated to achieve results.

The Air Chief hinted of renewed collaboration with other security agencies with the aim of effectively tackling the festering insurgency and restoring normalcy to the affected areas.

The statement quoted Amosu to have said that the Armed Forces were already thinking of post insurgency plans and strategising on how to “keep the place clean”, to avoid a relapse to the killing spree.

He was also quoted to have posited that the task in the envisaged post insurgency era would require more technology-based platforms.

The Air Chief called for commitment of and sacrifice from members of the Armed Forces, as the Federal Government continued to provide funding and support for the campaign. (0)

We have the capacity to crush Boko Haram, says Air Chief

We are at war with Boko Haram - Presidency confesses

By Ehi Ekhator

The Presidency has yesterday, rephrased the statement that “Boko Haram sect were on the run and desperate” to “we are at war with Boko Haram in the country”

Many have criticized the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on the method of handling the terrorists and mixed and contradictory statement concerning Boko Haram and inability to stop the attack on the innocent lives of Nigerians..

In numerous occassions, President Jonathan has said that the offensive against Boko Haram in the Northern Part of Nigeria is a success and continuously said that Nigeria will win the war against the sects in May despite the increasing death of innocent Nigerians.

According to Presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, while speaking with Channels television said that Boko Haram problem was “a war situation”

He said “We are dealing with a very, very serious enemy,” AFP quoted Okupe as saying on Channels TV.

“We are engaged in a war that has been internationalised,” he added in an apparent reference to Boko Haram’s reported but unconfirmed presence in neighbouring countries like Cameroon.

Boko Haram has killed thousands of Nigerins since 2009 with increasing death since the government declared state of emergency in three most troubled states.

According to UN and figures compiled by AFP, nearly 300,000 people have been displaced in the region and more than 1500 people killed.

“It is very difficult, very costly in terms of lives lost. But we will overcome,” Okupe said. “We are in the dying phase of this insurgency.”

The defence ministry on Thursday said the insurgents were “desperate” to escape Nigeria because of military pressure and would be “degraded towards elimination shortly.” (0)

We are at war with Boko Haram - Presidency confesses