Jonathan called me 19 days after Chibok girls’ abduction – Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Monday said former President Goodluck Jonathan did not call him until after 19 days after the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in 2014.

Jonathan in Borno

No fewer than 259 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram militants from their hostel in GSS, Chibok, on April 14, 2014 as they prepared for their West African Senior Secondary   Certificate Examinations.

A few of the girls managed to escape from the terrorists, who were said to have dressed like military men and loaded the girls into trucks and headed for an unknown destinations.

Over 219 of the girls are yet to be rescued since the unfortunate incident.

Shettima, however, said Jonathan, who was the President at the time of the mass abduction, only called him on the kidnapping about three weeks after the incident, which generated global outrage at the time.

The Borno State governor said this while receiving former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Government House, Maiduguri, after the ex-President arrived at the state capital on a two-day visit.

Obasanjo was on a visit to Borno on the invitation of the University of Maiduguri as part of the institution’s 40th anniversary celebration.

Trying to draw a comparison between the leadership style of Obasanjo and Jonathan, Shettima believed Obasanjo would have handled the issue of the kidnapping differently were he to be the nation’s President at the time.

He stated, “In our own case, Your Excellency, after the Chibok abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in April, 2014, it took 19 days for me to receive a call from the Presidency. I brought this mainly to show the difference, because we will only appreciate scenarios when we make comparisons.”

The governor recalled that the current Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who was a top member of the All Progressives Congress in 2014, hailed Obasanjo’s leadership qualities in a conversation after the mass abduction.

Shettima added, “I was actually lamenting to him on governance at the federal level with relations to the poor handling of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Chief Ogbeh said, ‘Look, I might have had some political differences with President Olusegun Obasanjo but to say it as it is, if Obasanjo had been President while this insurgency is happening in Borno and other parts of the North-East, you would have witnessed what responsive leadership entails’.”

Shettima noted that Obasanjo’s visit on Monday marked the ex-President’s first visit to the Borno State Government House since 1976.

The governor described himself as “lucky and privileged” to receive the former President as the governor of the state.

Obasanjo, in his reaction, said the Boko Haram insurgency would become a thing of the past judging from the military’s string of successes against the extremist group in recent times.

The former President, who was in Maiduguri in 2011 to initiate a possible dialogue between the Jonathan administration and the insurgents, commended  President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategies to fighting the terrorists, noting that peace was gradually returning to the troubled areas.

He said, “A lot of water has passed under the bridge in this part of the country. I must not forget to commiserate with all our people in this state and indeed the entire North-East, which have been victims of insurgency in the way we have never witnessed in this country before.

“I travel a lot in Africa and outside Africa, and wherever I have gone in recent times, what people want to know is what and how Nigeria is coping with the situation of insurgency.

“Today, I think we are not out of the woods yet but it would appear that we can see the light beyond the tunnel.

“There is no doubt that with the combined efforts at the local level, at the state level and at the federal level, and even at the community level, our security forces are on the ascendancy over the forces of destruction, the menace and danger of insurgency that we have experienced for almost six years now.”

According to Obasanjo, Buhari has shown that he is passionate about ending insecurity in the country, calling for support for his government.

He added, “Talking to the President (Buhari) about the issue of insurgency in particular and insecurity in general, I know that he is very, very concerned, and not only very concerned, he has got it right.

“He (Buhari) has ensured that where they (Boko Haram) have occupied is cleared of any mines. Where you have mines, lives are not only insecure, people feel intimidated for you never know when you may step on them.”

Jonathan called me 19 days after Chibok girls’ abduction – Shettima

Boko Haram: Borno govt stops trading in cattle markets

The Borno State government has suspended trading in four cattle markets to prevent the sale of stolen livestock to raise funds for Boko Haram terrorists.

Kashim Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima said, “All trading activities have been suspended until further notice in line with (the) government’s commitment to ensure that no public place is turned into an avenue for funding activities of the terrorists.”

The affected markets are in the towns of Gamboru, Dusuman, Shuwarin and Ngom all outside Maiduguri, the state capital.

Sales of dried meat such as “kilishi” have also been banned, he added on Friday.

A military counter-offensive that began last year has recaptured territory lost to Boko Haram in Borno and two neighbouring states and the Federal Government believes the group is “technically” defeated.

Hit-and-run raids on remote villages in the mainly agricultural region – a trademark tactic of the group – have increasingly seen Boko Haram fighters make off with cattle and foodstuffs.

The army says it has cut off the rebels’ supply lines, making it difficult for them to source food, fuel for vehicles and weapons. Some raids have been carried out on foot or even on bicycle.

Shettima told a meeting of cattle traders that security officials have reported the markets were being used by unscrupulous middlemen to sell stolen livestock in raids at inflated prices.

“The money realised from such transactions will then be channelled to fund the deadly activities of the terrorists,” Shettima said.

Maiduguri’s cattle market has previously been shut for similar reasons, leading to a shortage of meat in the city and a public outcry.

Imports of cattle into Maiduguri have been banned for the next two weeks and only licenced cattle traders and butchers were allowed to bring in livestock, slaughter and sell meat, the governor added.

Boko Haram: Borno govt stops trading in cattle markets

Oshiomhole, others win Governor of the Year, 2015 awards

Adenuga is African Businessman of the year

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

A common streak in the quartet is the way and manner they altered the pace and pattern of governance in the states they govern. Even more remarkable is the reconstruction of the political dynamics in the four states governed by Adams Oshiomhole, Edo, Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun, Kassim Shettima, Borno and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe.

Governor Oshiomhole

The handsome effort of the four was reflected in the ease with which all four won re-election for a second term.

For their efforts in making a difference, Governors Oshiomhole, Amosun, Shettima and Dankwambo are recognised as Governors of the Year, 2015.

Governor Kashim Shettima (Borno)

Arguably, no governor in the country faced the kind of pressure Governor Shettima got from the disparate forces that tackled him for most of his first four years in office. While the Boko Haram insurgents tackled from one bestial side, local political adversaries working in league with foes in Abuja regularly tackled him on the political plain.

The challenges nonetheless, Governor Shettima has won praise from far and near for his remarkable efforts in building hope, houses and unusual honesty in the heartland of Boko Haram.

Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe)

Described as the last man standing, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo was the only PDP governor who won re-election in the last general election. His feat was, however, not unexpected given the landmark achievements of the administration in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture among others.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo)

The advent of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State in 2008 led to the massive reconstruction of roads and other infrastructure that had until his coming almost laid in perpetual disrepair. Besides road infrastructure, Governor Oshiomhole has in seven years made differences in the health and education sectors in the state.

Equally remarkable is his role in reshaping the political configuration of Edo State, taking the initiative from the old political order that had until recently held sway in the state.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun)

Friends and foes of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun State are agreed on the massive reconstruction of roads that have given a new face to some of the ancient towns in Ogun State. While critics lament the high priority given to road infrastructure by the administration, Governor Amosun like a man with vision has soldiered on, focused on the bigger picture that opening up the state would in turn bring the state to a new lease of life.

African Businessman of the Year

Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr.

The one time Nigerian success story captured by the phenomenal business outreaches of Michael Adenuga Jnr. has remarkably branched out to the rest of the continent with Nigeria’s second richest business man planting his roots in Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, South Africa among others.

Dr. Adenuga may have become an African business icon, however, in the opinion of many Nigerians, he remains an inspiration and a bulwark whose entry into the GSM sector reshaped the pricing regime that foreign investors had at one time made hellish.

Adenuga’s investments in the continent range from telecommunication, oil and gas, banking among others

Oshiomhole, others win Governor of the Year, 2015 awards

Boko Haram control drop from 20 LG to 2 - Shettima

• As military dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from Borno villages

By Michael Olugbode and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents have lost much ground in his state, with the terrorists’ area of control dropping from 20 local governments previously to two at present.

Kashim Shettima

Shettima’s disclosure came as the Nigerian military disclosed that it had dislodged Boko Haram fighters from their enclaves within some communities of Borno State in the North-east zone in its continued effort to defeat terrorists in the country before the December deadline.

The governor’s comments came ahead of a conference of traditional and religious leaders billed for Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, today to brainstorm on ways to protect mosques in the state against terrorist attack.

Shettima spoke while receiving the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawan, who led a six-man committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari to pay condolence visits to Borno and Adamawa states, which both came under suicide attacks at their mosques on Friday.

The governor said the recent attacks in Borno should not be misconstrued as an act of authority of the insurgents but rather as noise aimed at attracting attention, adding that the insurgents are presently on the run and cannot be said to have a stronghold.

“They are presently controlling two local governments in Borno State; Abadam and Mobbar and partially in Marte,” he disclosed.

The governor insisted that the bombings that were witnessed in recent times were only to show to the world that the terrorists were still around and have no relevance to their prowess.

He said: “At some point, Boko Haram overran 20 out of our 27 local government areas in Borno State. They overran four local government areas in Adamawa and two in Yobe.”

He said in order to prevent bombing at mosques, he had summoned all Imams of mosques in Maiduguri, Jere and surrounding areas as well as district heads, village heads and those manning streets called lawans and Bulamas, for a security meeting to be facilitated by the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi.

The governor said the meeting scheduled for Sunday would discuss firm measures that might require policy pronouncements aimed at addressing the newest attacks on mosques during prayers as carried out by insurgents.

The SGF said “the president on hearing what befell Adamawa and Borno states and the country yesterday (Friday) decided to set up this team to come and commiserate with you.

“The president is always compassionate and emotional when things like these happen to the people of Borno state, Nigeria is indeed very sad that these things continue to reoccur so often.”

He said, “defeating insurgency on the battle ground is different from defeating it from the urban areas.

“And knowing that their days are numbered it is clear that they have changed their styles and strategies and have now resorted to bomb blast even in religious areas, no one would have expected that one would have woken up to explode himself in a mosque, killing Muslims and maiming innocent worshippers in mosque.” Lawan said: “The president has said we should highlight that security is everybody’s business, because some of these people live among us and the only way we can eliminate this menace is by being vigilant and observant. We should monitor the activities of people that seem strange and people that look strange and people that are strangers in our midst.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian military in its continued effort to defeat terrorists in the country before December deadline, said it had dislodged Boko Haram fighters from their enclaves within some communities of Borno state.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday said the troops of 5 Brigade Nigerian Army had been making huge progress towards complete elimination of the terrorists from their hideouts.

Usman said the formation was able to comprehensively destroy all Boko Haram camps and enclaves at the border towns of Kerenowa and Chikun Gudu as well as their contiguous villages in Borno state.

He revealed that the federal troops, during the ongoing operation, discovered and destroyed over 20 well fortified terrorist camps in the general area of Kerenowa. “The camps include some at the gateway to Kerenoa, Gumada and Dogon Gida,” he stated.

In addition, Usman said the troops also discovered that to evade aerial reconnaissance and bombardment, the terrorists had dug twin tunnels to conceal their facilities and routes in and out of the camp.

The Army spokesman listed among facilities discovered to include training areas equipped with instructional and training materials that include wooden guns, amongst others.

He said: “The troops have also cleared Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the road linking Marte, New Marte and Kerenowa. It is apparent that the Boko Haram terrorists lacked the will to fight as they are in disarray, abandoning their camps fleeing and leaving behind vehicles, solar panels used to power devices, food and other logistics, beddings, various IED devices, cables and cords.”

Usman also assured that “the advancing troops’ morale remains very high and they exude confidence and zeal to destroy all known Boko Haram camps along their axis of advance.” He called on members of the public to remain confident in the ability of the troops to eliminate all remaining vestiges of the terrorists before the year runs out in line with the presidential directives.

Boko Haram control drop from 20 LG to 2 - Shettima

Borno State Commences Post-insurgency Reconstruction, Says Shettima

Borno State Government has said it has commenced the reconstruction of public and some private buildings destroyed by the insurgency.

The governor of the state, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, said among the infrastructure under reconstruction are primary and post-primary schools, hospitals and clinics across the state.

He said also being rebuilt are some destroyed residential houses including total overhauling of palaces of traditional rulers.

He said the massive reconstruction was being undertaken  in order to win the confidence of fleeing people so that they can return back to their communities following the relative peace now enjoyed in the state.

Speaking while leading a team led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator/ United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Mr. Daoud Toure and Director- General (DG), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi to Auno village in Konduga Local Government Area for inspection of ongoing renovation and construction of Central Primary School, General Hospital, a mosque and the palace of the District Head on Wednesday, Shettima lamented that during the peak of the Boko Haram deadly activities, many schools, particularly the ones owned by government, were destroyed by insurgents.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Borno State Commences Post-insurgency Reconstruction, Says Shettima

Civilian JTF arrest four Boko Haram members

Four suspected Boko Haram militants were yesterday arrested by members of the Civilian JTF in Malari, a village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

Boko Haram, food, fuel supplier

Their arrest, which came three days after some insurgents raided communities in the troubled northeastern state, coincided with the visit of Governor Kashim Shettima.

The governor was on solidarity and sympathy visit to Malari after an attack by insurgents claimed nine lives and displaced many.

The people were killed when the militants stormed the villages including: Shettimari, Kammiri, Kakurami, Kalari Auwlari, Burari and Malari , all in Konduga council area.

Governor Shettima was shocked when some youths, alighted from a Volkswagen Golf car wiith four young men, whose hands were tied.

A civilian JTF leader, Nuhu Kumshise said one of the arrested sect member, had been notorious, terrorising and wreaking havoc on the villagers around Konduga.

“We arrested them today after his father handed over them to us. Then they led us into the bush where the two remaining guys hid themselves,” Kumshise said.

One the suspects allegedly confessed to his membership of the deadly group and he further named his leader.

Another member of the Civilian JTF, Bakura  Yusuf said: “Long before now we have been told that one of those arrested is the leader who used to lead attacks on us.”

The governor appealed to the hundreds of displaced persons at the Malari Primary School that they would soon be moved in buses to Konduga and that food items as well as other materials will immediately be provided by the state government.

Civilian JTF arrest four Boko Haram members

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

Chibok girls held in bunkers in Sambisa forest – Shettima

*Asks military to search beyond surface earth

By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA –  Borno State governor, Kassim Shettima, Tuesday, said there was every tendency that the female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect, in April 2014, were being held in bunkers, inside Sambisa Forest.

To this end, he has asked the military, which is combing the forest not only to fish out members of the sect but to also liberate the over 200 girls to carry their assignment beyond surface earth.

Shettima, spoke in Abuja, while presenting a paper at a two-day post election conference on security and governance, organized by the Savanna Centre, a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, established by former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary, Borno Elders Forum, Dr Bulama Mala Gubio, said the dreaded sect, having operated in the large expanse of the forest for so many years unchallenged, were able to build a bunker, large enough to accommodate many people in the area.

“We are suspecting that Chibok girls are living with the insurgents in bunkers, I think the military must carry out their operations beyond the surface earth,” he insisted.

“They (Boko Haram) were also known to have dug tunnels to enable them move from house to house. So, having been left unchallenged for such a long time, such possibilities cannot be ruled out which poses serious obstacles within the forest, “the governor added.

Speaking further, Shettima said: “The insurgents used their bases in the Sambisa Forest to launch deadly attacks and make quick retreat to their base which enabled them capture and take over control of all the local government areas bordering Nigeria with Cameroon, Chad and Niger, thus effectively cutting off the three neighbouring countries thereby declaring what they assumed was their their independent territory (caliphate).”

The governor also said unless Sambisa Forest was completely and effectively rid off of the terrorists by the military, any reconstruction and rehabilitation carried out in the North East region would be exercise in futility.

 

Chibok girls held in bunkers in Sambisa forest – Shettima

Shettima has questions to answer over Chibok abduction - Fani-Kayode insists

The director of media and publicity, Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday reiterated his allegation that Borno State governor Kashim Shettima, was culpable in the April 2014 abduction of over 200 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok by Boko Haram insurgents.

In a statement signed by him, Fani-Kayode accused Governor Shettima of lying when he claimed that PDPPCO had accused someone else other than himself for the abduction of the Chibok girls in the past.

He said, “This is not true. The fact of the matter is that our story has been consistent and clear right from the beginning and the records are there for all to see.

“We have said it from day one that the governor of Borno State is culpable, and have questions to answer about the abduction of the Chibok girls. This is because he broke his promise to guarantee the security of those girls and he allowed them to be abducted.

“We have accused him of planning with others from the outset to embarrass the federal government and to bring the president and armed forces into disrepute.”

Shettima has questions to answer over Chibok abduction - Fani-Kayode insists

Blame Buhari, Shettima, Lai Mohammed if Chibok girls are not found - PDP

By Henry Umoru and Levinus Nwabughiogu

Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPCO) says the All Progressives Congress (APC), its presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and the party’s National Publicity Director, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, should be held responsible if the abducted Chibok girls are not found.

Chibok girls

It tongue lashed the leadership of the APC over what it described as a flopped one-million-man-march organised in Lagos, saying only 10,000 persons attended the programme.

According to the PDPPCO, the development was an indication that the APC and its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are no longer in control of Lagos State.

The campaign organisation was reacting to an APC statement, yesterday, which described as callous, morbid and insensitive the comments by President Goodluck Jonathan that the abducted girls are still alive hinged on the belief that Boko Haram had not displayed their bodies to prove their death.

In a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity of PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, it noted that the APC and its leaders were working against the recovery of the girls, saying that while many Nigerians were happy with the efforts of the military and Jonathan and the successes recorded so far, the opposition party was not happy.

Fani-Kayode said, “Whilst the majority of Nigerians are overjoyed by the fact that the President has given us hope by saying that the girls are still alive, Lai Mohammed and the APC are not happy.

“The truth is that they do not want those girls to be found and neither do they care about their welfare or their safety. We say this because this was a man, and a party that complained and protested at the fact that Boko Haram was proscribed by the Federal Government last year.

“Lai Mohammed proclaimed that the proscription was unjust and unconstitutional. We have always believed that Buhari, Lai Mohammed, Governor Shettima and the APC know far more about the whereabouts of the Chibok girls and the activities of Boko Haram than they have cared to admit.

“Let it be clearly understood that if anything happens to those girls and if they are not produced at the soonest, we will hold Lai Mohammed, Buhari and the APC responsible”.

On the one-million-man-march organised in Lagos, the spokesperson for the PDPPCO said, “The fact that what the APC boasted would be a one-million-man march could only attract about 10,000 persons is a reflection of the pitiful state of delusion that they are suffering from.

“They have lost touch with reality and with the people of the state over whom they have maintained a wicked and ungodly economic and political stranglehold for all of 16 years. But the people of Lagos have now seen through their deception and have decided to reject them at the polls this time round.

“The Lagos people have amply demonstrated their anger against the APC and its leader.

“It is interesting to read that Tinubu asked the people at the flopped march to march for their freedom. I agree with him and the people will obey him by freeing themselves on April 11 from the political and economic bondage into which Tinubu has put them since 1999”.

‘Deeply offensive’

In its statement, the APC, yesterday, had described as callous, morbid and insensitive the comments by President Goodluck Jonathan, that the Chibok girls are still alive hinged on the belief that Boko Haram had not displayed their bodies to prove their death.

In the statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed, the party   said   it found the “comment deeply offensive to human sensibilities rather than providing hope and succour for the traumatised parents of the girls”.

It said a key role of Presidents everywhere in times of tribulations and tragedies is to offer hope and be the consoler-in-chief, not to make statements that will deepen the suffering and sorrow of victims.

APC said one would have expected a President to speak on the basis of actionable intelligence, not some twisted, melancholic and offensive logic.

The party said the statement “played on the fears of the parents of the girls and indeed of all Nigerians concerning the fate of the girls, who have now been held in captivity for over 300 days, with an impotent government unable to rescue them”.

It said “all that the parents of the girls as well as all concerned people around the world want to know is what the Jonathan administration is doing to bring the girls home safely   and as soon as possible, not a depressing statement about their bodies being displayed via a video by Shekau if they had been killed”.

 

Blame Buhari, Shettima, Lai Mohammed if Chibok girls are not found - PDP

Thugs attack Shettima’s convoy, destroy 15 vehicles

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By Ndahi Marama

MAIDUGURI—Thugs, yesterday, attacked the convoy of Governor Kashim Shettima along Kashim Ibrahim Way in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

Shettima

It was gathered that Governor Shettima had earlier planned to go round the state capital in the morning to inspect some projects and visit hospitals, but that when his security details informed him that the town was not safe for him, he had to delay the tour until 3pm.

Sources said the youths, armed with cutlasses, knives and sticks, positioned themselves at strategic points waiting for the governor, who they alleged has failed the people of the state.

At about 4pm, the thugs attacked his convoy leading to the destruction of about 15 vehicles in the convoy, while several people sustained injuries.

State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ali Bukar Dalori, in his reaction, pointed accusing fingers at some political thugs associated with former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff.

Dalori said the attack took place while Governor Shettima was driving along Sir Kashim Ibrahim Way after going round different hospitals in the state capital, offering support to patients.

Dalori said the thugs came out from a campaign office belonging to Sheriff, called UTC and soon after the governor’s official vehicle had passed, the thugs went after vehicles in the convoy, smashing windscreens.

It was gathered that immediately he was informed of the attack, Governor Shettima restrained his security details from attacking the youths so as not to compromise ongoing counter insurgency operations.

Spokesman of ex-governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, however, said although neither himself nor his boss was in Maiduguri to know what transpired, he believes that those who attacked Governor Shettima were the hired APC thugs that were denied payment after they carried out the contract of destroying Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, offices in the state during General Mohammed Buhari’s disrupted visit last Monday.

 

 

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Thugs attack Shettima’s convoy, destroy 15 vehicles

I Won’t Hand Over To Military Administrator – Shettima

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, yesterday told those plotting to make elections impossible in the state to discard their plot as he will not hand over power to any sole administrator on May 29.

Shettima

The governor insisted that elections must hold in the state by all means because there was no provision in the constitution where a democratic government has to hand over to a military sole administrator.

Shettima, who made this comment after presiding over the swearing-in of the 50 special advisers he recently appointed, was reacting to the growing concerns amongst citizens in the state that the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) might not conduct elections in the state, which will give room for a sole administrator to take over power in May when his tenure elapses.

“Any retired soldier or a retired policeman who is waiting to be posted here as a sole administrator is wasting his time, because there is no place in our constitution where a sole administrator is allowed to govern a state during a democratic dispensation,” said the governor. “In the worst-case scenario, the option is to extend the lifespan of our administration for six months.”

The Borno governor recalled that elections had been in Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya and even Somalia where similar cases of insecurity existed and queried why it should different in Nigeria.

“it is unfortunate that some people are calling for the postponement of the February general elections because they know they cannot win election; that is why they are agitating for a postponement.”

The visibly irritated governor recalled that in the over 1,000 years of Borno’s chequered history, the people had experienced many adversities and had survived most of them – like the Rabeh Azzubair’s invasion and the Maitatsine crisis – and declared that the Boko Haram insurgency will not be an exception.

He called on the newly appointed special advisers to collaborate with other cabinet members in order to work for the success of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming elections.

“All Nigerians must vote for the APC because change is on air. As such, Nigerians must unite irrespective of race, region, religion and tribe to secure the country because the ruling PDP has failed us all,” the governor said,

I Won’t Hand Over To Military Administrator – Shettima

From being broke, Sheriff became richest ex-governor -Shettima

The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has described as absurd the allegation of fraud against him by his predecessor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, saying the former governor has no moral standing to tag him as a corrupt person.

Sheriff and Shettima

The governor spoke through his media aide, Alhaji Isa Gusau, on Tuesday.

Gusau said the description was an “irony, laughable and absurd,” claiming that the ex-governor was practically broke before assuming office in 2003, but left “office as perhaps the richest man in Borno State and one of the richest former governors in the country.”

The governor’s spokesman was reacting to an allegation by the former governor in a press briefing in Maiduguri on Monday that Shettima was corrupt.

Gusau said, “I think of all Nigerians that held public offices in the country, one man that should seal his lips whenever issues of corrupt practices are being discussed is former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

“Everybody knew he was broke before he became a governor in 2003. Today, he is practically the richest former Governor in Nigeria, who was reported by Thisday Newspaper in 2012, to have acquired a jet worth N11bn for his luxury and he was said to be the first African to have procured such a jet as an individual.

“This is a man that has never flown in a commercial flight in the last 10 or more years within Nigeria because he has fleets of jets he owns. This is someone that cannot survive outside the corridor of power from the days of military.

“It is really shocking that of all people, Sheriff can open his mouth to accuse any Nigerian of corruption, let alone a good and prudent man like Governor Kashim Shettima, who has won the hearts of so many with his numerous works for his people despite security challenges in Borno.”

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From being broke, Sheriff became richest ex-governor -Shettima

Shettima accuses politician of sabotaging war against Boko Haram

The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday raised the alarm over the activities of an unnamed political cabal, which he accused of undermining the war against terrorism in his state.

Shettima

He accused the cabal of working hard to destroy the existing harmony between him, the Presidency and the security services, especially the military.

Shettima spoke in a statement by his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Bello Gusau.

He accused the unnamed members of the cabal of top politicians from the state of trying to drag the military into politics and undermining the joint efforts to combat terrorism in the troubled state.

The governor also said the cabal was at the same time trying to use the media to destroy the harmonious working relationship between the state and the Presidency.

The statement partly read, “The cabal, made up of some discontented politicians, some serving and former leaders, has a single agenda which is to create problems between the Presidency, military and the Borno State Government in order to dubiously secure the political blessings of the Presidency and top ranks of the military with a view to seizing control of the military, the police force and State Security Service, divert the security’s attention away from counter insurgency, drag them into politics, destabilise the polity and use security agencies in furthering their political ambitions ahead of the 2015 elections.”

It also accused the cabal of deploying all possible means, including publishing falsehoods and spreading same on the social media, to accuse the state government of so many wrongdoings, including unimaginable financial misappropriation.

Shetima said the speculations making the rounds that he had vowed to undermine President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid was part of the plot to break the relationship between him and the President.

The statement dissociated the governor from a Facebook account, bearing the name and picture of Governor Kashim Shettima.

It explained that the group went as far as publishing a false interview with a certain Boko Haram suspect who allegedly named Shettima as a sponsor of the Boko Haram sect.

“He (Shettima) feels that 2015 is in the hands of God. He is particularly concerned about the deaths of citizens in Borno State and the need for synergy between the state and federal establishments to sustain a coordinated fight against insurgency so as to secure precious human lives and property,” the statement added.

In a related development, a member of the ongoing National Conference, Mr. Buba Galadima, said that members of the Boko Haram sect operated in Borno State on Sunday night for eight hours without hindrance.

Galadima, a delegate from Yobe State, told the delegates that attacks were carried out on several villages and towns in the state and that no fewer than 45 bodies were recovered in one of the villages.

The delegate, at the verge of shedding tears, also informed the conference of the bomb attack at the Monday Market in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

“The Boko Haram sect operated for about eight hours even though the information about the attack was given out. The security agencies were informed. It was the Civilian JTF that helped to evacuate the dead bodies,” he said.

Another delegate, Chief Mike Ozekhome, recalled that he was kidnapped for 21 days and that he went through harrowing experience.

He added, “My stand on Boko Haram is clear. And I told government this. There are at times you stoop to conquer.

“I want the government to negotiate with them. It is not out of fear, but because of the Chibok girls. We need to bring them back.”

He explained that what he told the conference on Monday was that a text message was sent to him by a friend warning about attacks in Abuja, saying he did not receive any direct message from Boko Haram. He said other people received the same message as himself.

Ozekhome had under a matter of national urgency informed the conference on Monday that he received a text message warning of imminent attacks in parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, the United States of America has said it was becoming more worried about Boko Haram successful attacks. The US has however promised more assistance in the war against the terrorists.

Speaking at the US Department of State daily press briefing on Monday, the department’s spokesperson and former media aide to President Barack Obama, Jennifer Psaki, condemned the recent attacks by the insurgents on four villages near Chibok.

Psaki said, “We’re providing additional equipment for Nigeria’s intelligence fusion centre. We’re also providing military training and other assistance to help professionalise the Nigerian military and increase its maritime security and peacekeeping capabilities.

“We condemn the reported attacks on four villages near Chibok. Our sympathies go out to the victims and their families. We remain committed to helping the government of Nigeria address the threat posed by the criminal terrorist group.

“Our Embassy continues to support Nigerian efforts to bring about the safe recovery of the abductees and to advise the government of Nigeria on its response.”

While fielding questions from journalists, the US state department spokesperson admitted that there were challenges being faced by the Nigerian government, adding that America was advising the government on how best to address the threat posed by the terrorist group.

“Our discussions with Nigeria about addressing the threat of Boko Haram have been ongoing for months now.

“There’s no doubt there are challenges – challenges the Nigerian government faces and those who are taking on this threat on the ground. And we’re certainly working with them to boost their capacity and advise them on how best to address it. But I’m not going to outline it further than that,” Psaki explained.

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Shettima accuses politician of sabotaging war against Boko Haram

Old age supposed to come with wisdom, Shettima blasts Clark

The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima,  yesterday asked a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, to champion national issues instead of promoting sectional desires.

He also reminded Clark that power does not last forever, and he should manage his age with wisdom.

Shettima took a swipe at Clark while receiving members of the Niger Delta Peoples’ Forum in Borno State at the Government House, Maiduguri who came to protest against full emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The group condemned Clark for demanding the appointment of military or sole administrators for the three states.

The governor said: “We are one people, the majority amongst us in terms of numerical strength, whether in tribe or religion, must give a  sense of belonging to the minority.

“It is people like Elder Edwin Clark that do not really understand who we are and who we should be in this country.

“Power doesn’t last forever. Every opportunity you have is one that you must miss some day. He is 87, he should be a father to all and he should champion the course of nation-building and not sectional interest, if for nothing else, at least for his age.

“From the moral point of view, God gives some consideration to the youngest and the eldest. Let us continue to urge him in a polite manner to see Nigeria beyond his walking stick.

“The hat that he puts on should provide shield not only to his grey hairs, but to the young hairs of other Nigerians, regardless of where they come from.

“Age should always go with wisdom of tolerance, wisdom of truth and defence of it, wisdom of togetherness and national unity,” Shettima said.

He told the Niger Deltans that he regards them as Borno people, contrary to what they named their group.

He added: “I will prefer to call you the Forum of Borno People from the Niger Delta. Some of you were born here in Borno State; some of you probably had parents or grandparents born in Borno.

“Most of you have something doing in whatever respect whether as businessmen, traders or whatever it is you are doing and by that, you are contributing to the economy of Borno State.

“The allocations given to Borno from the Federation Account is given based on our population amongst other indices being considered, and all of you here, regardless of where you consider your roots, make up the population of Borno State and this means you are stakeholders in what we get from the Federation Account, you are fully entitled to all public services and privileges that we provide as a government.

“When Boko Haram members, in their evil ways, planted explosives around the post office in January, this year, the explosives did not choose victims based on their backgrounds and what part of the country they came from, the explosives simply targeted residents of Maiduguri who happened to be on the spot. This is the same of other wicked attacks in any part of Borno State.

“So, to me and indeed to every reasonable person here, you are part and parcel of Borno State, you are sons and daughters of this state with roots from the Niger Delta.

“My ancestral background is the Nganzai Local  Government Area in Northern Borno, but I have adopted the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council as my official place of origin. We are all one people in this country.

“Believe me, I have never regarded Honourable Christopher Godwin Akaba as different from anyone that works with me on the basis of ethno-religious background and this was why immediately he was appointed as Special Assistant, I brought him directly under my office; I have seen his potential, his sincerity, zeal and commitment to progressive governance and this is what matters to me as a governor”.

Shettima said one of the best ways any society can grow fast is to open its doors to accommodate any person that lawfully lives within it regardless of his background.

He said the United States and the Dubai Kingdom in the U.A.E have become great mainly because they accommodate any good citizen across the world who desires to live and work there without being unlawful.

The governor called on members of the group to aspire for anything in Borno and be free to enjoy rights and request for privileges as others would do.

The Secretary General of the forum, Prince Stephen U.A. Ebri, who read a prepared text, faulted Clark’s agitation for full emergency in the three states.

He said members of the group used to feel ashamed when some elders from the Niger Delta speak ignorantly on issues.

“There is one issue that is seriously troubling the mind  of every one of us here and that is how some of our elders from the Niger Delta that are completely ignorant of the true situation in Borno State are attacking this government that is doing everything within its powers to address the problem.

“Sir, we were in Maiduguri when you were sworn in on May 29, 2011. In case our elders in the Niger Delta do not know, there are Niger Delta people living in Borno. We are from the Niger Delta, but our difference is that we are well informed about the true situation and they are ignorant, they don’t know, they don’t want to know and we don’t think they will ever know.

“We are not fools or sycophants; we are responsible people that will call a spade a spade. When you were sworn in, Maiduguri was in disarray. People were killed daily; bombs were every where; all of us were living in perpetual fears, young boys were threatening everyone with guns, calling phone numbers to threaten people.

“But today, Your Excellency, you have been able to lead the people of Maiduguri to rise against threats and defend themselves. Today, Maiduguri is an opposite of what it was when you came in.

“Rather than the fear and citizens’ imprisonment you met on May 29 2011, today there is peace, security and freedom in Maiduguri. It was you that led us to the peace through the intervention of God.”

The group faulted the agitation for full emergency by Clark in the three states.

The Secretary-General of the forum added: “We are worried so much by some of the utterances of our Niger Delta brothers like Asari Dokubo and elders like Chief Edwin Clark. Only yesterday, we read an advert by Chief Edwin Clark in the newspapers calling for the removal of governors, saying all manner of things that are out of absolute and annoying ignorance.

“Chief Clark said the Borno State Government is not cooperating with the Federal Government. How can a government that is using resources to finance security agencies be accused of being uncooperative when we all know that it is the Federal Government that is supposed to fund the security?

“We are angry and tired with these utterances that are making us very uncomfortable in a state that the people have been treating us with love and respect. This is a state government that went as far as giving a political appointment to a son of the Niger Delta who works directly with the governor.

“This is a government that appointed an Igbo man as a cabinet member and that Igbo man is in charge of community relations, that Igbo man has been with Your Excellency for many years.

“Sir, anytime people from Niger Delta speak on Borno out of ignorance, we feel very ashamed because all that they say are not the truth of the ground realities in Borno State and some people assume that we from the Niger Delta share the hate views of some of these people.

“We have had enough of them. They are trying to mislead Nigerians and they are making us unhappy in a place we have been happy for many years. In the light of the foregoing, we, the great people of the Niger Delta in Borno State, hereby, disassociate ourselves from all utterances made against the government and people of Borno State.

“We are, however, committed to any meaningful goal of the Niger Delta people which does not compromise the unity, peace and progress of the entity called Nigeria. The people of Niger Delta are reasonable, we are tolerant, we fight but we fight good courses.

“Anybody calling for the military is talking out of ignorance of the laws of this country. If anyone has a military man he wants to make Governor of Borno State, he shouldn’t come through the backdoor. He should sponsor that person to retire and contest elections for the governorship of Borno in 2015 and we will be very happy to send that person letters of commiseration after we successfully and proudly re-elect Governor Kashim Shettima in 2015 to continue his great work of sustaining the peace in Maiduguri and working to attract peace in the entire Borno State” the forum said. – The Nation

Old age supposed to come with wisdom, Shettima blasts Clark

Escaped Chibok girls to continue school in Lagos - Borno State Government

The Borno state government unveiled yesterday its plan to relocate the abducted Chibok schoolgirls to other schools in Zaria, Abuja or Lagos to complete their secondary education and remove them from the stigma of the abduction.

It also said American counseling experts on “trauma and counseling” will be invited to Maiduguri for the 57 schoolgirls, who escaped from custody as the parents do not want to part away with their children and wards, during the counseling sessions.

Many of the schoolgirls who were at the Government House, Maiduguri declined to speak to reporters. Their parent also kept sealed lips.

Governor Kashim Shettima spoke yesterday after a meeting with the parents, Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, Mr. Bana Lawan; and the schoolgirls. There were 32 parents and 27 schoolgirls at the meeting.

The governor said: “The abduction of Chibok schoolgirls by the Boko Haram gunmen, does not only affect parents here present in this Council Chamber, but all of us, including my humble self and other stakeholders of Borno state. I have daughters too; and as a leader, people’s lives and property must be protected, including the rehabilitation of traumatized girls and their parents.

These girls have no any other place to go.

“We have also no plans to politicize the abduction of over 200 innocent schoolgirls from their school on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram gunmen.”

Shettima added: “If any person that doubts the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls; let him or her go to the affected town and meet the parents.

“We are taking these girls here in this council chamber to a school in either Zaria, or Abuja or Lagos, but we will not disclose the name of the Secondary Schools in which they will complete their secondary education, as it has been interrupted by their abductions since last April.”

He added that each of the girls complete the secondary education at the cost of N1.5 million.

“Parents of abducted schoolgirls; are also to be consoled and sympathised, until the remaining schoolgirls held hostage, are rescued by the military and other security agencies. I will travel to Chibok to condole with the affected parents to sympathise with them, before their children and wards are rescued.”

He also directed the council chairman to meet all the affected parents in Chibok and condole with them. He gave undisclosed amount of cash to the parent.

The Chibok Council Chair said they were at the Government House on the instance of the governor, but only 27 students and 32 parents could come.

He added that some of the pupils and parent had relocated by their parents to their relations outside the state.

No fewer than 25 mothers of the schoolgirls abducted by insurgents from Chibok, Borno State are currently receiving intensive therapy in an undisclosed location in Lagos.

Also with them are three of the girls who escaped from Sambisa forest following the abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Day Secondary School in Chibok.

The girls and mothers are in Lagos courtesy of three non-governmental organisations led by Omoluabi Network. The two others are: Chibok-based Gabassawa Women and the Unlikely Heroes, based in Los Angeles, California.  They arrived in Lagos on Saturday.

The founder of Omoluabi Network, Pastor Ladi Thompson, said his group, in collaboration with the others, decided to take up the responsibility of caring for the girls and their families because the culture of caring is alien to many Nigerians. He said the proper thing to do now is to have extensive therapy for the victims to aid their recovery from the shock and the pains of the abduction, but which has not been done by the Nigerian government.

Thompson also said the three organisations had started a campaign called, “Care For Our Girls,” which will focus on bringing the girls and their parents back to the pre-abduction mental, psychological and physical state of being.

The Nation gathered that the mothers and girls were released to undergo the intensive care by their fathers and husbands.

“These women you see here are brave. It was very hard to bring them to Lagos; they had faced several dangers on the road, but because they have faith they are here, the experts have made us to understand that caring is the solution and we have to learn that in Nigeria,” Thompson said.

He also said part of the reasons for bringing the women and girls is to prove that there was indeed the girls were abducted.

It was authoritatively gathered that when the women arrived in Lagos, they were in terrible physical and mental shape with many of them crying uncontrollable and others physically sick. According to Erica Greve, a trauma therapist and coordinator of Unlikely Heroes, the victims are in terrible need of physical and mental therapy.

“We must realise the severity of the trauma the women, girls and the community are going through. When they arrived here for treatment, you could see the grief on their faces; they have risked their lives to come here for treatment,” she said.

The trauma counsellor also disclosed that the women were given immediate medical care, with comprehensive tests conducted on them,while their immediate medical and physical needs met.

The Nation also gathered that the three girls who escaped from the insurgents’ enclave had been subjected to series of medical test and the result is expected tomorrow. It was also gathered that the health of many of the women have deteriorated and some of them have been experiencing fainting spells.

“From a clinical standpoint, both women and children are experiencing shock, with many of them in denial. Many of them are experiencing physical symptoms too, and our goal is to help relieve them of the stress and help them deal with the loss,” Erica said.

Thompson also called on the government and other nongovernmental organisations to step up the campaign to care for the people of Chibok. He said access must be given to trauma counsellors to have access to the families, saying there is need for the parents to undergo therapy and the children too.

“Care for our girls must start with care for their mothers. The girls will be released and when they arrive, they must not be thrown back into the society just like that. They must be debriefed and taken proper care of in a safe location to enable them reintegrate into the society. Also, Chibok must not be left alone; we must help the community get back to its feet and defeat this terror,” he said.

Kucheli Balami, founder of Gabassawa Women, thanked the Omoluabi Network for coming to the aid of the mothers, noting that it had been a traumatic experience for her. “Since the abduction,  I have not been able to eat or sleep properly, it has been hard, but we are trusting God that our girls will come back,” she said.

She also revealed that the women were suffering emotional trauma. “These women are suffering, we were preaching that the girls should go to school and when they did, it is a different story.”

Also throwing another permutation into the case, Ibrahim Bangalu who has worked extensively in Chibok revealed that the community is praying for members of Boko Haram. “I want us to continue to pray for members of Boko Haram because they are our children who are being used by the devil for negative things. The Bible teaches we should pray and when we say God should bless Boko Haram it is to change their hearts. When that happens, all Nigerians will be happy so I therefore bring a message of hope,” Bangalu said.

Another resident of Chibok who was present at the event, Philip Madu said the community which is predominantly Christian has lived peacefully with the Muslims. “ I can clearly say that 95 percent of Chibok is Christian but we have lived peacefully with our Muslim brothers without any discrimination. On my wedding day, my best man is a Muslim and we are still good friends. Everybody is accepted irrespective of your religion in Chibok, we are still united even now in our grieve, “Madu said.

He denied that Boko Haram targeted Chibok because it’s a Christian community, “They targeted a school and some of the victims are also Muslims, religion is not discrimination in Chibok.”

Escaped Chibok girls to continue school in Lagos - Borno State Government

Governors Nyako, other oppose emergency rule extension

Governors of the three states under emergency rule in the Northeast opposed yesterday the attempt to extend the controversial measure.

Governor Nyako and Governor Suswam

The second strand of the emergency rule is expected to end on April 19.

The Presidency is weighing its options on the “sensitive” matter.

Besides rejecting the extension of emergency rule, the governors are also asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from last week’s general elections in Afghanistan and conduct polls in their states next year.

The Boko Haram insurgency, has led to thousands of deaths and great hardship in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

To the governors, shelving elections in the three states would amount to succumbing to or conceding victory to the deadly sect.

They asked INEC to work with the Federal Government to provide adequate security for a free and fair poll in the affected states.

The governors – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe) and Kashim Shettima (Borno) – gave the advice in a joint statement.

The statement was released through their spokesmen, including Ahmad Sajoh for Nyako, Abdullahi Bego for Gaidam and Isa Gusau for Shettima.

The governors said: “On the issue of extension of State of Emergency, it is our considered view that there is absolutely no reason to even contemplate an extension of the State of Emergency in any of the three states.

“It must be noted that a counter insurgency strategy that lasted one year without achieving the desired result requires a redefinition rather than extension.

“The Federal Government should always remember that it has the obligation of protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians in all parts of the country without necessarily putting them under any special condition.

“It has the option of putting a security structure in place that can continue and intensify ongoing counter insurgency operations without an extension of emergency rule.”

They said there had been insurgency in Niger Delta with Joint Military Task Force (JTF) deployed in the region without a state of emergency in place.

They added: “After all, we had the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in place in some of States with full military activities prior to the declaration of emergency.

“We have for many years, also have in place similar JTF in the Niger Delta to combat militancy and kidnapping, we have had same in the southeast to fight armed robbery, we have a Special Task Force in Plateau State combating the crisis in parts of the State without necessarily putting them under emergency rule.

“Besides, the Nigerian Army has in 2013 created new divisions and brigades in Borno State as permanent military establishments.”

They expressed confidence that if the military sustained its present level of engagement against Boko Haram, the insurgency will be overcome.

The statement said: “We hold that with continued motivation, continued and intensified deployment of military resources, the crisis will be overcome.”

The governors, however, pledged to assist security agencies to restore lasting peace to the three states.

They said: “We call on citizens in our respective states and other Nigerians to continue to intensify prayers for the return of peace.

“We call on our security agencies to remain resolute and patriotic. We salute the sacrifices of fallen heroes among them and among our civilians who died in the crisis.

“We are all very committed and determined to continue to work with security agencies and all other stakeholders in our committed search for lasting peace in our three states.”

The governors warned INEC against hiding under the guise of insurgency to shelve elections in 2015.

They said the commission should take a cue from Afghanistan which conducted a successful poll in spite of threats from the Taliban.

They said: “Afghanistan and its good people were celebrated worldwide for liberating themselves from the scourge of fear and thereby sending a strong signal that no amount of threat would deny them from choosing their leaders through democratic processes. This is the kind of courage expected of genuine patriots.

“Our Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should please learn from the landmark election that took place in Afghanistan at the weekend during which election officials took the bold step of going on to conduct election in spite of threats by the Taliban to send the country into extinction if the elections were held.

“The Central Government in Afghanistan provided adequate security for the conduct of the poles. It was also reported that there was a 53 percent voter turn-out during the elections and it went on peacefully in most places.

“We all know that the unfortunate insurgency affecting this country has a similar attribute to the Taliban doctrine in Afghanistan even though ours is now assuming a very complicated character.

“The INEC should, as a matter of counter insurgency approach, ensure that no part of Nigeria is excluded from the 2015 elections on account threats.

“Suspending elections on account of threats by insurgents and other sundry social miscreants would amount to succumbing to their doctrine and conceding victory on the part of Nigeria.”

The governors said if INEC opted to shelve or postpone the 2015 poll in the three states, the Boko Haram insurgents will be emboldened to infiltrate other 33 states to scuttle the next general elections.

The statement said: “Should INEC go ahead with its initially considered exclusion of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States from the 2015 elections, all criminal gangs need to do, is to extend the attacks to other parts of Nigeria and have more places excluded from future elections. “This will then imply that crime and criminality will be victorious in suspending constitutional democracy in Nigeria.”

Governors Nyako, other oppose emergency rule extension