Hundreds of Arewa leaders who received Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Lagos on Sunday, said they rejected hundreds of thousands of dollars which was offered to them by President Goodluck Jonathan when the President visited the state two weeks ago.
The leaders, who were drawn from the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state, distanced themselves from the endorsement given to Jonathan by a group.
Speaking during a meeting at the Ikoyi home of a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu, the Chairman, Arewa Community in Lagos, Alhaji Sani Kabiru, said those that endorsed Jonathan were impostors.
He said on the day of the endorsement, some people bought turbans at Agege and went to visit Jonathan at the State House, Marina, posing as emirs only to deceive the President.
He said, “When President Jonathan came to Lagos with dollars, some of us here quickly went back and gathered ourselves and started calling our own not to go to visit Jonathan. I also commend some leaders here for leading an offensive and convinced people not to go there.
“Most of the Arewa leaders and ‘serikis’ did not even go there to collect the dollars. At that event, card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party bought turbans at the Central Market around Moshalashi Bus Stop, Agege. The person that sold the turbans told me that they dressed up as emirs and they were on their way to Jonathan’s place.
“So, most of them were fake. They went to collect dollars but cannot tell anyone because they are in hiding. But we did not stop at that; those that we knew that went, we called them to order and asked them why they went but they said they only collected dollars but they would not vote Jonathan.”
Kabiru said virtually all Arewa members had collected their Permanent Voter Cards. He promised to ensure one million votes for the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); and the state’s governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
While fielding questions from journalists, Kwankwaso berated Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for what he termed, “inciting comments.”
He said Fayose’s comments against the North were a reflection of Jonathan’s temperament. He, however, urged the people to express their choice at the polls on March 28.
He said, “When I did my National Youth Service Corps in Ogun State, I imbibed the belief that this part of the country has people that are positively cultured ranging from Obafemi Awolowo, Ernest Shonekan, MKO Abiola, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Olusegun Obasanjo and others.”
Alhaji Shettima Yerima, an activist and president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, in this interview says that peace may continue to be elusive if some ethnic groups are treated as second class citizens in the Nigeria project, adding that justice and fairness can only ensure the much desired peace in the country. Excerpts.
The inflammatory statements here and there especially coming from politicians and ex-militants on the general elections are source of worry. You agree?
I am worried because this is not what we expected from this country at this time. I am very worried also because we don’t need these inflammatory statements coming here and there at this particular time. It baffles me when I see our democracy turning into something else. People don’t talk as patriotic Nigerians. Politicians don’t talk about what will benefit the people any more and those who are beneffiting from the government shy away from the truth. Most of them believe that they can do anything and go away with it.
Many Politicians seem to have forgotten that election will come and go but the country will remain.
We have done it in the past and we are going to do it again. Those who are making inflamatory statements are those who have not contributed any thing to the growth of the country, they were not on the trenches when there were problems but they have the opportunity to be there not because they are better than us. Let all politicians be mindful of what they say because if anything goes wrong, they will all be affected. If they think they will run away, they may not be able to escape and if they do, their families will be affected.
With some of these war threat, people are apprehensive of possible post election violence, what are you doing to stop it?
The post election violence in 2011 is still fresh in my memory. So many people were killed and many families were wiped out in Kano. I saw how people were lynched. It was good that it didn’t escalate to the south. We liaised with various ethnic nationalities and it was controlled. We have worked alongside some international organisations and built a good relationship. But we have been able to manage the situation and those leaders from various organisations that are based in the South have actually seen our efforts and have trusted us.
As one of the Northern leaders, I give updates to people and educate them on what to do. Where danger looms, I call the attention of the government and security agencies to avert it and to protect people.
Right now, are you doing the same inorder to forestall a repeat of the post-election violence in 2011?
We are doing it. As I speak with you, we are in touch with various ethnic national leaders. I have spoken, with Fredrick Fasheun, Gani Adams, Asari Dokubo and the rest of them. We are discussing extensively and we might hold a press briefing very soon on the need for violence-free elections before and after election in all parts of the country.
These people are of the view that they are being treated as second class citizens. Yes! I agree with some of their views because we are all the same in this project Nigeria.
There is hope if we have equity and fairness. The politicians have to watch their utterances. These days, the campaigns are not based on issues but attack on personalities. It has even extended to generations of a families. I don’t think it is right, people must be called to order. The politicians are too rascal in their approaches.
To me, both the ex-militants and TY Danjuma are wrong. The call for war is wrong and also depriving somebody of his freedom of speech is also wrong. If Jonathan loses through normal process, they have no reason to raise any eyebrow; again, there are other channels without war. You can go to court and challenge the verdict. Nigeria must be seen to be bigger than any individual. Again, the call by Danjuma that they should be arrested is uncalled for because similar statements have been made by other people in the past. What happened? Was there any arrest? No. So, anybody talking now is enjoying his liberty under a democratic government.
But from the discussion I had with so many of them, nobody wants war.
What efforts are the Northern leaders putting in place to ensure that there is no repeat of 2011 post election violence?
You can see that I spend most of the time, in the north. I move from one state to another trying to consult with various youth organisations. We are trying to educate them on the consequences of violence. It usually starts when somebody initiates a bad idea and put it on people. These people believe whatever they are told and they start killing people. We try as much as we can to diffuse that mindset, sensitize them and make them realise the effect of their action. Be that as it may, I don’t think that is enough, government must also rise to the challenge that adequate security is provided during and after the elections.
The Boko Haram insurgents seem to have defied all government’s strategy to wipe them out, what do you think government should have done?
In fairness, I don’t expect President Jonathan to go to Maiduguri and fight. There are people saddled with that responsibility. It shows these people have demonstrated total incompetence. The government then must rise to the occasion to saction them, sack them and bring fresh people who will deal very well with the situation. So, when people tell me Jonathan is behind Boko Haram, I get confused the more. Most of the people involved in security of the country are from the Northern area, so, are they in any way sabotaging the efforts of the government or serving the interest of a particular people?
We should ask Minister for Defence, the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-General of the federation, all of them are from the north. Instead of pointing accusing fingers, these people should tell us about it and we will know where the problem is coming from rather than blaming Jonathan alone.
But these people get order and directives from the President…
Yes! I am sure there is an order and if there is none, I challenge them to come forward and say it. So, if there is an order and they refuse to carry out the order, or they don’t carry it out well he should sack them. Fire all of them and bring in fresh blood that will tackle this problem and save our nation. What is affecting Maiduguri and other places, is indirectly affecting other parts of the country.
SARKIN Hausawa of Lagos, Alhaji Sani Kabir, yesterday, told the Federal Government that northerners in the South West have arrested more than 1,000 members of the Boko Haram insurgents in parts of the South West.
Boko Haram
Speaking when the Arewa Council of Chiefs in the South West paid a visit to the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, in Abuja, Alhaji Kabir said the arrests were made at different times.
He said that those arrested were Boko Haram members who fled from the Civilian JTF/military onslaught on the insurgents in the North East and those who came to the South West to further the insurgency.
Kabir said the Council has taken it upon itself to ensure that Boko Haram did not take root in the South West because according to him, such a development would complicate the security challenges facing Nigeria.
He said, So far in the South west, we have peace and this is achieved through the collaboration of Arewa people and Arewa chiefs. If you can confirm with the security agencies, we have arrested more tham 1,000 Boko Haram members throughout the south west states. We promptly report any suspicious movement to the security agents because we believe that the problem is actually the Nigerian problem but if there is any breakdown of law and order in the south west, we are the prime targets irrespective of whether one is a member of Boko Haram or not.
“All the Arewa sarkis (kings) in the south west are up and doing to make sure that we do not allow any breakdown of law and order in our communities.”
On how they effected the the arrest, Kabir said, “we inform our leaders that when new people come into their midst, they should observe their behaviour. Some of the leaders in the south west are northerners, some of them are from Borno State, they can know. There were even instances where JTF came from Borno State to identify some of them.”
On their support for the re-election President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Kabir said, “I will like to start by going back to 2011 electioneering campaign. There was a team that was led by the president and the vice president and they met with the Council members and we pledged to give our assistance and support during the election period and beyond. Since that time, there has been no communication between us and the president or the federal government.
Responding, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabir Tanimu Turaki, who received the group on behalf of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan thanked the Arewa leaders for their efforts to ensure that insurgency did not extend to the south west.
UMUAHIA—OHANAEZE Youth Council, OYC, has condemned in strong terms the call by Arewa Youth Development Foundation for the dissolution of Nigeria, describing it as a big offence that warranted treasonable prosecution.
OYC also condemned the demand by the Arewa Youths for Southerners in the North to leave within two weeks and for Northerners in the South to do same.
The group, in a statement by its National President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a provocative warning against Ndigbo by the Arewa Consultative Forum, threatening to interfere with Igbo businesses in the North.
“This is also on the heels of the call by the Arewa Youth Development Foundation for Southerners to quit the North within two weeks.
“This is a similar approach to the event that culminated to the unfortunate crisis of the late 60’s when undue sentiment, emotional outburst and propaganda were allowed to take the better part of reasoning of some people in the North.
“Later, millions of innocent Igbos and Easterners were to pay the supreme sacrifice.
“The truth is that there is no single threat to any Northerner in the South East or Igboland. They are here doing their normal businesses and unmolested by anybody.
“The governors of the zone as the chief security officers of their various states only took constitutional measures to safeguard their states against insecurity, especially in view of the recent discoveries and arrests of Boko Haram suspects in the zone.
“Do the Arewa people want the South-East governors and people to keep quiet in the face of Boko Haram threat to the zone,” OYC said.
The group said it was shocking that at a time Nigeria was passing through serious security breaches, some misguided youths, under sponsorship by fifth columnists, could be making divisive calls inimical to their fatherland.
According to the group, Arewa youths are being used by some disgruntled persons who did not wish the country well.
He urged Nigerians to resist their plan.
The group said: “Our concern about the shameful outing in the palace of Emir of Kano is that the youths of the region who have been notoriously misruled for long by the same people that sent them on the dirty mission should have rather questioned their sponsors on their ignoble roles in bringing the region and Nigeria to its present situation.
“The same people that foisted penury, deprivation and frustration on the innocent Talakawas (commoners) of the North are now sending them mischievously on an errand that threatens Nigeria’s unity.
“Our message to the contemporary youths of the North is to resist the attempt of the fifth columnist and merchants of topsy-turvy politics to herd them into an ill-fated mission.”
It, however, noted that not all Northerners were part of the group out to pull down the country, and urged the North to resist those who hide under the cloak of the North to cause confusion and chaos.
“We know these few elements that pretend to be the conscience of the North and we also know the true conscience of the North,” the group stated.
OYC also made it clear that there was no threat to any Northerner in the South-East or Igboland and assured Northerners not to panic, as there was no cause for alarm.
The northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has asked the Federal Government to immediately investigate the allegations made by Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, about genocide against the north as well as external and third party support to the Boko Haram insurgents. The Forum, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the government should also investigate the source of funds, arms and ammunitions the insurgents have been using to carry out their deadly acts of terrorism against the people without much resistance from security forces deployed in the affected states.
The statement reads: “Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state in a letter dated 16th April. 2014 sent to the Governors of Northern States accused the “Federal Government of genocide against the people of the north. He alleged that the FG has failed to arrest the mindless slaughter and indiscriminate bloodletting by the Boko Haram insurgents and other terrorist groups which is a clear and systematic effort to destroy the Northern population for partisan political advantage.”
“ACF had in the last six years expressed serious concern on the spate of killings and destruction of property by the Boko Haram insurgents and other criminals in the north especially in the North east region. It had also appealed to government at various levels on the need to adequately equip and fund its military and other security personnel to tackle the insecurity challenges bedevilling the region.
“Unfortunately the measures employed by government including a state of emergency have not yielded the desired result, hence the incessant attacks and kidnapping of innocent people by the insurgents and unknown gunmen.
“The scale and sophistication of the attacks being waged by the insurgents against armless people who do not even know or understand their grievance is beyond the capacity of the semi-illiterate almajiri (Boko Haram) that we know.
“It would be recalled that not long ago, our military command informed the world that it had found and destroyed over 700 vehicles belonging to the insurgents in one of their camps, so as to wither the fighting being waged by the Boko Haram insurgents. How come the killings and kidnappings have continued to be on the increase especially in the North east region?
“ACF had earlier called on the government to thoroughly investigate the source of funds, arms and ammunitions the insurgents have used in carrying on with their deadly acts of terrorism against the people without much resistance from our security forces deployed in the affected states.”
