Front Pix
Those Kano Killings …If Kwankwaso Had Learnt Early
On Monday, September 5, 2011, this Column felt a compelling need to admonish Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over his calls for immediate release of Boko Haram suspects in police custody, for their alleged involvement in the bombing of the United Nations (UN) House in Abuja, a fortnight earlier. That terror attack had left 23 killed, and 81 people injured, among them defenceless men, women and children.
Being the first such attack on a humanitarian organization of global renown on Nigerian soil, the unfortunate incident naturally evoked uncommon passion, empathy, and indeed, grief among all well-meaning people here in Nigeria and abroad.
Among those who condemned the terror attack was the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. He described it as an abominable act in Islam, ‘especially in the month of Ramadan’ when Moslems seek the face of Allah in piety, self-deprivation and prayers for peace, forgiveness and love.
In an emotion-laden Sallah message to the Muslim Ummah, in his palace in Sokoto, in commemoration of the Eid el-Fitri, the monarch urged Islamist terrorists to fear God and desist from their nefarious acts, as they negated the true tenets of Islam. While commiserating with families who lost dear ones to the bombings in Abuja and in Jos days earlier, the monarch urged true Moslems to unite against the evil which the Boko Haram represented to Nigeria’s own democracy and unity.
It was at such a time, that Governor Kwankwaso was busy calling for the immediate release of Boko Haram suspects. This column was curious for several reasons.
In 2007, some suspects, including Mamman Nur, one of those declared wanted over the Abuja bombing, were arrested by security operatives but were quickly released because of similar Kwankwaso’s calls. Interestingly, the car used for the August 26, 2011 UN House bombing was registered in the same area of Kano State where the terror suspects had been arrested and quickly released in 2007.
That we felt should have worried the Kano State governor and given him a hint that danger might be brewing under his nose. Instead, the governor felt a more compelling need to pursue immediate release of suspected Boko Haram members.
Specifically, the governor urged security agencies to release members of the Yusfiyya Movement, notoriously known as Boko Haram along with other members of Jihading religious groups, who were in detention for any reason whatsoever.
In an ominous attempt to pledge his love for and undying loyalty to Boko Haram, Kwankwaso went the extra mile to explain, ‘at no time did the state government ever authorise any security agency to arrest or detain any member of Boko Haram or of any religious sect, for that matter.
That position showed a state governor who could not be depended upon to investigate, using the police and other security officers, arrest and charge to court any member of the Boko Haram sect, in spite of emerging facts that point to Kano, his own state, as a first shop of test in efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria, because of the cosmopolitan nature of the commercial city and is imminent targets – Christians and non-Hausa-Fulani, including Igbo traders. That kind of disposition, for a chief security officer of a state within the federation, appeared very worrisome.
Could it be that Kwankwaso did not listen to the Sultan of Sokoto, the undisputed head of the Supreme Islamic Council of Nigeria? But if he did, was he simply being Moslem than the Sultan? Or could his action have been a veiled submission to the self-preservative theory of courting the love of one’s assailants in order to live, at the risk of others’ lives?
This Column then cautioned: “Kwankwaso might think that he enjoys the friendship of the extremist Islamist sect. But his is instead that of one living in a fool’s paradise, an allusion of grandeur which, in the long run, will make regret one too late”.
Intrinsically, bombs thrown in a market place spares none, either Moslems or Christians. If Kwankwaso and family, due to their privileged positions don’t make it to the market place or any other busy public place, at least, one close to them could, if not at the time of the UN House bombing, of which he showed no respect to the dead, some day, someone could.
Just as feared, Kano, Governor Kwankwaso’s homestead became a battle ground penultimate Friday, a worship day for devoted Moslems and left in its trail 185 dead. The same Boko Haram, the governor loved to defend whole-heartedly has since claimed responsibility for the attacks on security houses and Christians.
Those deaths are most painful and we share the pains of families who lost loved ones to that senseless bloodletting in the name of religious cleansing by a faceless, misguided and demonic cowards obviously emboldened by the silence of thorn-coats like Kwankwaso, who speak from both sides of their mouths.
If Kwankwaso had learnt a lesson or two from the security concerns of Jos, Abuja and Bauchi, among others, and not spent useful time defending terror suspects and creating a safe-haven for Boko Haram in his state, the 185 dead might have lived.
Yes, Boko Haram members may claim to be Moslems or truly are, but do their dangerous activities, of mass murders, destruction of property and senseless bloodletting, at peace time, reflect the true nature of Islam? Do they symbolize the true nature of Allah, which true believers know as love? Will the Boko Haram’s activities attract converts to the faith or force all others to generalize that Islam, as a religion, is a violent one.
These were considerations that seemed to have meant nothing to the governor and there are no positive signals that he would any time soon.
That is why, as we canvassed last year, the governor must earn our sympathy and understanding because he perhaps required the friendship of the Boko Haram sect, to, not merely serve out his term as governor but to live and enjoy the spoils of his political voyage ever after.
In that circumstance, shouldn’t the next plausible option left be to persuade him out of Government House, since, by his choice of friendship with Boko Haram, he has inadvertently chosen to become a sworn-enemy of the state? Shouldn’t Nigeria respect Kwankwaso’s choice for protection of terrorists instead of his own state and nation?
Problem is, there is no telling if the embattled Kano governor is alone in sympathy with the Boko Haram or there are many more of the governor, either out of fear or genuine acceptance of the warped ideals which the group represents, have been weighing the options. Or is it a tacit demonstration of support for the predicted division of Nigeria along religious lines, by the year 2015?
In the case of Kwankwaso, it could also be a way of insisting on the respect for the rule of law and our criminal code which presumes even a self-confessed criminal as innocent until and unless found otherwise by a competent court of jurisdiction. After all, Nigeria operates the accusatorial process of prosecution as against its inquisitorial opposite.
The governor may have a point there, but shouldn’t he be informed enough to know that in times of war, like the country’s against terror launched by Boko Haram, some of such rights could be sacrificed to ensure thorough investigation, for society to know peace? Without such arrest, detention and systemic interrogation of such high profile suspects, how can Nigeria successfully fight the common threat to Nigeria’s’ civilisation, secularity, and indeed, democracy?
These are the considerations that should occupy the consciousness of the Northern elite and men in power like Governor Kwankwaso and not support Nigeria by day and sympathise with terrorists at night, under the cover that they are fellow Moslems.
Unfortunately, the one man that takes all the blames of failure is President Goodluck Jonathan, even if, as governors, Kwankwaso and his ilk also enjoy security votes that by law are never accounted for.
My Agony is that the Constitution does not empower President Jonathan to suspend indefinitely, such ill-equipped states’ chief security officers as easily as would a governor, local government chairmen.
This is Kwankwaso’s saving grace and an embattled president’s dilemma.
This is why for the reasoning of the likes of Kwankwaso, it needs to be said even for the umpteenth time that crime is a contagion which main incentive is the leverage of dodging the appropriate punishment.
If they had known that “every unpunished delinquencies has a family of delinquencies”, as warned by Herbert Spencer in his postscript to The Study of Sociology, perhaps, the Kano State governor and his co-travellers would have insisted on ‘exact justice’, for felons in 2007,which in the reckoning of James Russel Lowell, in Among My Books: Dante, ‘is commonly more merciful in the long run than pity, for it tends to foster in men those stronger qualities which make them good citizens’, but what Kwankwaso inadvertently prevented by his hasty calls for the release of terror suspects, has turned around to hurt not just his state but defenceless men, women and children.
If only he had heeded our September 5, 2011 warning, when, the theatre of terror was miles away from his home, in Abuja and Jos, Plateau State.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Front Pix
DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.