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Beyond A Political Kite …Before Amnesty To Boko Haram
For upwards of one and half years into the Yar’Adua Presidency, it wore the colouration of a misguided orgy of violence independently orchestrated by a handful of frustrated young people, in Borno State who, bereft of hope, on account of the seeming worthlessness of their academic credentials, resorted to self-destruct.
Then it got bloodier and bloodier every passing day and later assumed the pedigree of a well -orchestrated terrorist campaign with the capacity to incite ethno-religious war in the land.
Even now, the criminal siege lodged by the Boko Haram Islamist militant group has yet to abate, neither are the relatively unknown, even faceless foot soldiers any way close to repentance, necessary for forgiveness.
After the United Nations (UN) House, Abuja bombing, in which scores perished and yet another on media houses across the federal capital, all doubts that the armed insurgency in parts of the North, was another example of youth restiveness, vanished or so many thought. From the nature of casualties, the mode of attacks after attacks, the mass murders in highly populated public places like parks, market places and Christian places of worship, it dawned on all well-meaning Nigerians and even foreigners alike that the country was indeed under terror attack.
A terrorist siege is like a war with ghosts, no specific target, no uniformed army, no known single geographical location and no major distinguishing identification of the enemy. The next door neighbour could be the enemy. The desk mate at work could be an informant to the terrorist army and a political associate could be the key sponsor.
That scenario naturally places an intelligence burden on even the best army because it requires the unmasking of the army, then going in search of its operational base, followers, source of funding and economic survival. These facts accounted for the long, rigorous, frustrating search for and eventual killing by the United States of America (USA) of the main mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the Twin Towers of New York and elsewhere Osama Bin Laden.
Here in Nigeria, the Boko Haram seem even more invincible and very deadly in their daily attacks and near frequently painted of the federal government a picture of helplessness and lack of tactical direction while also accusing the nations security community of poor intelligence gathering pedigree.
In attack after attack public reaction was the same. Condemnation of both the Boko Haram and the Federal Government and very often sweeping dismissal of the Jonathan Presidency as a weak one. By such views, an alternative in their view, would then be, to adopt conventional warfare tactics: identify the target, pound mercilessly and keep pounding until you hear noise no more, not even of a baby’s cry.
That too has its only shortcomings. Often, not all along enemy target areas are enemy combatants. Some are defenceless men, women and children often used by terrorists as humans shield, and whose survival and safety if not considered could make the victorious war commander and his supervising government culpable of war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Even President Goodluck Jonathan alluded to that when he said the Odi option employed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was not a civil solution to youth insurgency which went beyond mere protestations to outright militancy.
Amidst all these however, very few appreciated the actual agenda behind the senseless bloodletting, the mass murders and the meaningless attacks on Christian places of worship by the Boko Haram terror group. On the last count, no fewer than 1,500 defenceless Nigerians had perished and still counting. Infact, the mission seemed to be , kill as many as can kill until the federal government appropriates equal or even more federal resources in amnesty to parts of the North as enjoys erstwhile insurgents of the oil producing Niger Delta.
So, when prominent Northern elders, under the aegis of the Northern Elders’ Forum, who were known to have done little or nothing to properly articulate the worries of the Boko Haram sect, nor bothered to identify its leadership for meaningful dialogue, went public demanding amnesty for the terrorists, it became clear to many that the North has resolved that only criminality pays in Nigeria. To them, what years of intellectual protest, civil agitation and meaningful dialogue cannot achieve will be hastened by a systemic, consistent and deadly blood-letting.
And like a big joke, Nigeria’s Federal Government which had repeatedly said amnesty for a faceless group like Boko Haram amounts to forgiving and doing business with ghosts, seems favourably disposed to doing exactly that. After a meeting with the Northern Elders Forum last week in Abuja, presidency sources told a shocked nation that government was considering amnesty for Boko Haram which leadership ranks and indeed membership remains unknown, except foggy are indications that group enjoys support and operational understanding with other notorious terror organisation within the West African subregion and even beyond.
The implication of that is that the federal government , may if it eventually does grant amnesty, be faced with an usually large population of Boko Haram faithful which may unsurprisingly include virtually all employed and unemployed Northern youth and their kith and kin from neighbouring Niger, Chad and elsewhere. The target, from all indication, will be to attract to the North federal resources of the kind, if not far more so, that goes to ex-militants of the oil producing areas by way of amnesty.
Interestingly, the Federal Government seems helpless in the circumstance and from all indications, amnesty for Boko Haram members, is merely a matter of days. Already, a committee has been set up to consider the request of the Northern Elders’ Forum, ostensibly, with a view to fulfilling all righteousness and making the eventual outcome a product of the Council of State and hence, Nigeria’s.
But we will be investing, inadvertently on criminality and anarchy by showing that the easiest path to national recognition and support is the ability to lodge mayhem against innocent Nigerians in whatever form. It is even more bizzaire because apart from open indignation for western education and a veiled attempt to impose Islam in the whole of the North, not a single discussable grievance has been advanced.
Yet in parts of the south, particularly in Lagos and Port Harcourt, public places, including major traffic ways are converted to open mosques for Moslem worship without any disturbance. In Rivers State for instance, a mosque at the abattoir at the Slaughter -Woji axis has out poured it’s flock unto that ever busy road, linked only by the Woji Bridge. On Fridays, Moslem faithful stretch far beyond the bridge-head to the round-up, thus making traffic on Fridays in particular, virtually impossible.
As frustrating as that weekly experience might be, not once has it been heard that a Moslem place of worship, no matter how inconveniencing to the public, has been disrupted, not to think of being attacked. The violent opposite is what Boko Haram has championed at peace – time, in the name of terrorism.
So, what might be the rational for such amnesty to a group which in total defiance to the avowed constitutional secularity of Nigeria, sought to, and in a bloody manner, impose one religion on all others in the land? Is it for future political gains or out of sheer helplessness in prosecuting the war against terror. Or both?
Or is it simply what many Nigerians have always suspected, the need to compensate the Northern youth with resources sourced from the oil producing Niger Delta as a balancing economic act? If it is, as there are little facts to the contrary then, we are inadvertently glorifying evil over good. And I fear that a day will come when unemployed university graduates, law-abiding job seekers and even responsible youth groups from other parts of the country would find in blood insurgency their only opportunity to enjoy national attention.
Or what happens if say, the Odua Peoples Congress,OPC secretly produces a splinter terrorist group to fight the Yoruba heartland or the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafia, MASSOB toes same line? Would we simply crush them as Obasanjo did Odi, or as federal troops did Biafra or, not too long ago, as the Abacha junta did MOSOP in Ogoniland? Or will we adopt the now rewarding Yar’Adua/ Jonathan example of pampering criminals and mass murderers?
My Agony is that this script may well be belated because from all indications, the talk about Federal Government considering amnesty for Boko Haram is more than a mere political kite flown to feel the heartbeat of the nation. It is a mathematical certainty likely to be quicked by fears or love of 2015. And that is condemnable.
Don’t be surprised if the unrepentant Boko Haram ranks choose to reject the FG’s unsolicited amnesty offer, if for nothing else, to raise the stakes to include even the almajiri’s to benefit from the amnesty gift to the North. Don’t.
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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.