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The Secret Agenda …Remote Causes Of Boko Haram Siegea
Many Nigerians agree that members of the Islamist Fundamentalist group – Boko Haram have no clearly discernable grouse to prompt the wanton killings and destruction of public places in parts of the North. But they have continued to hold, not just the Northern part of the Nigerian State to ransom, but also pose a potent danger to the nation’s unity.
The only known grievances, either directly or remotely expressed in veiled messages to the worldwide Web are their opposition to Western education and desire to impose Islam, not only, in the Northern part of Nigeria but indeed the length and breadth of the country.
For these, no fewer than 1,000 defenceless men, women and children have been killed in cold blood. Security operatives have been gunned down in droves and countless public places destroyed by improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings. And to date, there does not appear to be any strong signal that the orgy of blood letting would abate anytime soon.
Curiously, prior to the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in April, last year, there were pockets of threats by some Northern politicians that they would make Nigeria ungovernable. What was considered a mere political goof of frustration, on the part of those rejected by the voters, has become potent threat that needs to be viewed seriously.
Former Military Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), one time Minister of Finance, Malam Adamu Ciroma and others apparently prejudged the mindset of the Northern electorate and vowed that, should the wish of the people be subverted, hell would be let loose. Even so, it was not clear if the post electoral violence that attended the release of results for the Presidential elections was a fulfillment of that political miscalculation. But Buhari’s later day threat of the baboon and the monkey being soaked in blood, should same be repeated in 2015 might have deleted all doubts.
Since then, no week passed without bloodshed and virtually every state in the Northern parts of the nation has been hit, with the security agencies and the Federal government wantonly bearing the blame for the systematic destruction of human and material resources.
On the last count, the Boko Haram terrorist group was quoted as saying, that only an inter-face with President Jonathan and subsequent discussions with its leadership would stop the attacks. How are such talks possible without the group’s leadership unmasking itself and making themselves available for such dialogue?.
Reading in-between the lines and judging from remarks by some influential Northern leaders on the need for a balanced federation, as opposed to what they consider a lopsided development situation between northern and southern states, there does appear to be a consensus that the Boko Haram group is not as misguided as many are wont to believe.
The group methinks, is a major negotiating platform for governments of the northern states but who are reluctant to say so. The main grouse seems to be the Federal Government’s amnesty package for Niger Delta militants, pronounced by former President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua at the peak of the Niger Delta unrest.
It is curious that some Northern political elements are opposed to the amnesty programme, and still consider it as a dubious window for selective empowerment of the militant youths of Niger Delta and a reward for their violence. It is indeed that mindset that has fuelled the unabating violence, in hope that eventual dialogue with the Federal government would result in a similar amnesty programme, not just for the Boko Haram membership, but indeed all other hitherto unknown arm-carriers and others in parts of the North for the purpose of balancing the equation, from Northern perspectives: The calculation is that such amnesty programme would further unite the northern youth behind the elite for future political ground standing for an eventual political choice for 2015. With such gratis, governors of the northern states, known to have been complaining of poor funding would have extra earnings to address empowerment needs of their peoples.
This is ostensibly why committed efforts at making Boko Haram unpopular in such areas have failed. The modus operandi of their terrorist group, the choice of targets and indeed its spread all point to same end. This is undebatedly why all attacks by the group has thus far attracted mere condemnations without any verifiable, proactive steps by northern states governors to end the senseless bloodletting and high level of insecurity in the land.
The other plausible explanation to the continued violence is to present Jonathan as a weak leader, incapable of ensuring security of lives and property, which is one of the primary responsibilities of government. Expectedly, for every terror attack, the president’s rating falls, public discontent rises and the political opposition smiles to the newspapers, pumped-up by the state of insecurity. What seems a loss to the Jonathan Presidency thus becomes their gain. And should thus continue for as long as they will, if possible, up to the next electoral process, they would have succeeded in cowing President Jonathan into subservience, and leave him with no political liver to aspire for re-election.
Conversely, should President Jonathan muster brute force to quell the Boko-Haram insurrection, and in the process record civilian casualties, no matter how insignificant, in comparison with the spoils of the terror group, he would be tagged merchant of ethnic cleansing and found guilty of war crimes.
With this no-win situation, the Jonathan Presidency’s development plans are intermittently truncated, since not much can be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity, senseless bloodletting and wanton destruction of public property.
But by far the most destructive agenda appears to be enlistment of elected representatives devoid of party affiliations, to constantly underplay the achievements of government and magnify perceived failures, for the main purpose of undermining the Presidency, and rendering it unpopular.
Signs in that direction were ominous in the handling of the fuel subsidy strike, eventual probe and the campaigns to prosecute those found culpable. Although in the process, some arrow-heads of the agenda implementation had their hands burnt with accusations of demanding and receiving bribes, the group’s determination still appears unyielding.
This perhaps accounts for recent calls for impeachment of President Jonathan over what some members of the House of Representatives consider poor budget implementation.
This is in spite of the fact that Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had earlier in the month said, that by the end of the second quarter of this year, the level of budget implementation stood at 52 per cent, a record never heard of, in the past 15 years.
These examples of deliberate discontent, point to a well-planned agenda geared towards pulling President Jonathan down, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) doing very little to call to order its majority membership in both Chambers of the National Assembly.
President Jonathan himself, touched on that while addressing the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP in Abuja July 17, this year, when he urged his party to rise up to the challenges presented by detractors bent on pulling his government down. Although, the party leadership, last week, promised to inter-face with aggrieved members of the House, with a view to identifying areas of discontent, it is obvious that the ‘Pull-Jonathan-Down now’, and ‘stop him in 2015’ plots are on course.
Whether driven by greed, vaulting ambition for political power, or outright plot to down-play the political and economic relevance of the Niger Delta, it needs to be stated clearly that no one has the monopoly of creating artificial insecurity to plot a government’s fall.
For the avoidance of doubt, in spite of its enormous contributions to the national commonwealth, this would be the first time, the Niger Delta region has had a shot at the Presidency, and should not be subjected to destructive manipulations by a few disgruntled political elements in the Northern part of Nigeria. Instead, everything ought to be done to ensure the success of the Jonathan Presidency, if for nothing else, for the unity, well-being and survival of Nigeria.
My Agony is that it is very unclear to me, where lies the loyalty of some members of the House of Representatives elected on the PDP platform. To their sponsors, some of whom seem to have vowed to pull the government down or to the party and nation? Methinks the former.
Now is the time for the Jonathan Presidency to look deeper, before every thing goes awry. Amnesty for Boko Haram, improved funding for northern states and making President Jonathan unpopular are, merely, symptoms of a larger picture with 2015 as target.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
President Jonathan and Babangida Aliyu
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.