THE Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on Tuesday expressed reservations against the move by Federal Government to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram, saying doing so was offensive to common sense in all ramifications.
The group also counseled the political class against making inflammatory statements that were capable of overheating the polity ahead of 2015 elections.
Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, took these positions on Tuesday while addressing newsmen in his State of the Nation address at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Chief Fasoranti, who was flanked by other leaders, including Chief Olu Falae, Prof Akinyemi Onigbinde, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Abagun Kole Omololu, Chief Supo Shonibare, among others, also stated that giving amnesty to the insurgents would be preposterous and retrogressive.
Fasoranti, who observed that never in the history of Nigeria, except during the civil war era had Nigerians been more insecure than now, explained that Afenifere’s stand was based on the fallout of the amnesty already granted in the Niger Delta region which had recorded monumental abuse, especially among the elite managers of the scheme.
“For instance, we agree that granting amnesty in the Niger Delta region per se is in order. But we find it hard to defend the monumental abuse going on, especially among the elite managers of the scheme and are disturbed as to whether the scheme will bring a lasting peace giving episodic restlessness still being demonstrated.
“Yet, we have created a set of emergency billionaires from amnesty while the conditions in the creeks remain virtually what they were.
“It is with this at the back of our mind that we have been so skeptical over the so-called amnesty for Boko Haram which is a much more dangerous group than the Niger Delta insurgents who were known and whose demands were clear,” he said.
The Afenifere leader maintained that it would amount to a tragedy for the country to embark on another money-sharing spree in the name of granting amnesty to another group “with all the blood that has been shed.”
Fasoranti, who noted that the Boko Haram terrorists had been unfortunately complemented by the activities of kidnappers, assassins, armed robbers and others, advocated that any decision on Boko Haram should be holistic, saying the country should not be talking of the insurgents but also their victims as well as the causes of the menace with a view to ensuring that the situation did not repeat itself.
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The Multinational Joint Task Force (MTF) has clarified that contrary to several media reports, only six civilians lost their lives with about 30 insurgents killed in the crossfire between their forces and members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect at the border town of Baga, Borno State.
The Commander MTF, Brig-Gen Austin Edokpaye gave this update Tuesday in explaining what happened on the encounter with Boko Haram at the weekend with reports that over 191 persons were killed, 10,000 rendered homeless while 2,000 houses were said to have been razed down.
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The entire township of Baga, a border town in Borno state, was razed down at the weekend as a Nigeria-led multinational force and suspected members of Islamic group Boko Haram engaged in a shootout that left no fewer than 185 persons dead, according to government officials.
The level of destruction and loss of lives, according to a source, remains one of the most unprecedented since the insurgency by the extremist sect commenced. Residents of Baga, a town famous for having the largest fish market in Nigeria, alleged that the killings and burning down of houses were perpetrated by soldiers. Governor Kashim Shettima, who visited the town yesterday, was overcome by emotion at the sight of charred houses, vehicles and how homeless residents took refuge in the bush. The commander of the multinational force, Brigadier General Austin Edokpaye, explained that the conflagration that consumed the town and resultant deaths should be blamed on Boko Haram, who opened fire on soldiers and used civilians as human shield.
However, a local trader in the town told Blueprint that the attack, which started at about 8pm on Friday, was unprovoked even as he blamed soldiers for going house-to-house, chasing residents and setting their abodes on fire. A resident who pleaded not to be named said: “Only God can understand what we have done to deserve this. So far, we have buried 185 corpses. Some were burnt beyond recognition; others are hospitalised, with various degrees of burn.”
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The leadership of the Islamic terror group, Boko Haram is now making a u-turn on their initial decision to reject the government proposed Amnesty.
A leader of the terror group, Mohammed Marwan, has hinted that the sect is now ready for dialogue with the Federal Government.
According to the sect leader, the reason the Islamic fundamentalist group ordered the release of the French nationals its members took hostage was to demonstrate its readiness for dialogue with the Federal Government on the way forward in the offer of amnesty.
Marwan, who was speaking in an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) monitored in Kaduna on Saturday, explained that he ordered the release of the French nationals who had been in the sect’s custody for about two months after a meeting with 11 other top members during which the decision was taken.
He, however, warned that the agreement would be breached should the government continue its offensive against the sect members or attack any member of the Muslim community unjustly.
According to him, ”those that were in our custody for some time, I gave the directive that they be released yesterday around 2.00 p.m. I gave the directive for their release as a result of some discussions we had amongst us. The discussions revolved around what the government came up with after their meeting with the Northern elders.
“That is why I ordered that they should be released and allowed to go without being handed over to anybody. I said a vehicle should be brought so that they go back to where they came from inbetween Cameroon and Adamawa. It was as result of the many calls and the preparations ahead. That was why I gave that order after our joint meeting; 12 of us had met.”
Commenting on the amnesty committee set up by the government, Marwan said it was high time the government stopped what it was doing to the sect members and the sect too ceased fire.
“We thank Allah; we should all sit. They should stop what they are doing and we too should stop what we are doing. I also directed that no security official will be touched unless he touches us or the Muslim community; those who committed no crime, as we will revenge if they do that. But I have given that directive so that we would see how they will go about it. (So will it be) unless another confusion comes up again,” he said.
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The Christian Association of Nigerian -Americans (CANAN) has renewed its call to the American government to designate the dreaded Islamic sect Boko-Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
CANAN in a statement yesterday in Washington, urged the US Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry to update and review its decision on the matter.
"With the assumption of office of a new Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, the US government should update and review its policy decisions on the matter," CANAN said.
The group also urged United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to make its concern concrete by including a recommendation to the US State Department to designate Boko-Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
According the press release by CANAN's Executive Director, Laolu Akande, the group said designating Boko Haram an FTO was the most logical next step, in view of the current situation in Nigeria and USCIRF's advisory role to the US Government.
Apparently reacting to recent report by USCIRF that the Nigerian government has not been prosecuting perpetrators of religious violence, CANAN wants the commission to make concrete recommendation to the US government on the matter.
According to CANAN, several US departments, including the FBI, Justice Department and several US Congressmen have called for the designation of Boko-Haram as an FTO. It said the State Department, which was empowered by the US government to make such a decision refused to do so.
The US government had last year labelled three leaders of the Islamic sect as global terrorists. The group also decried ongoing attacks and retaliation by Muslims and Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt area, criticising the government for absence of meaningful prosecution of culprits.
"CANAN and the other US groups, including Justice for Jos, Jubilee Campaign, Institute for Religion and Democracy, Westminster Institute, among others commends the statement of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), The data is clear that Christian villages have overwhelmingly been targets of multiple midnight massacres; 36 in 2012 alone, resulting in hundreds of deaths of Christians in the last couple of years," he said.
The statement explained that what had been deemed a reprisal attack by the Commission was an uncoordinated defensive action forced by the failure of the Nigerian government to provide security of lives and property.
"The rare instances where villagers were able to engage in defensive action in a context of state security failure have been broadly termed 'reprisal attacks' without acknowledging that Christians have exclusively been at the receiving end of systematic genocide in Plateau State of Nigeria."
According to CANAN, Boko Haram has unequivocally stated its goal is to exterminate Christians in the north and impose Islamic rule in Nigeria. It has consistently bombed churches and killed Christians to this end, with occasional collateral damage to or targeted assassination of Muslim critics.
The group added that USCIRF under-counts the number of churches attacked in 2012, even though available data shows that more Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2012 than were killed in the rest of the world.
CANAN however called on commission to be alive to its responsibility, on making true representation of the situation in Nigeria. "It is hoped that USCIRF which has generally fared better in fulfilling its statutory reporting requirements than the State Department is not regressing following last year's reorganisation of the commission."
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A human rights activist, Shehu Sani, has declined to serve in the 26-member Presidential Committee empanelled by President Goodluck Jonathan to constructively engage key members of Boko Haram.
The committee is also to define comprehensive and workable framework for resolving insecurity in the country.
But in a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday night, Mr. Sani suggested he was not consulted before the appointment and announced he won’t serve on the committee
“My friends called me this afternoon to inform me that they saw my name on the list of the Presidential committee on Amnesty,” Mr. Sani said. “This is to thank our president for giving me such an honour and consideration. However, I humbly and respectably wish to decline to serve as member.
“My advice remains: Reach out to the persons I mentioned their names in my interviews in the dailies to discreetly consult with the group to get their input on the idea. Thanks.”
Mr. Sani has repeatedly criticized the federal government over its handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. He had suggested that journalist Ahmad Salkida, who had reported extensively on the insurgency, should be engaged to reach out to the leadership of the violent sect.
President Jonathan had on Wednesday constituted the Presidential Committee following months of pressure on him to grant amnesty to members of the group.
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FORMER President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Anambra State, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to consider compensating the families that lost their loved ones to the attacks of violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, and the carnage the group carried out before granting amnesty to the sect.
Ikedife, who was the presidential liaison officer for Anambra State during the Second Republic, spoke at the inauguration of Anambra State chapter of Bilie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI) at Nnewi.
According to Ikedife, if granting amnesty to the Boko Haram Islamist sect will bring peace to Nigeria, it should be considered and the people who claim to be Boko Haram group must be identified and the carnage they have carried out equally evaluated.
His words: “If granting the Boko Haram group amnesty will bring peace to Nigeria, let us consider it. But whom do you grant amnesty to? You must identify the persons and then evaluate the carnage they have carried out.
“Those people who lost their loved ones, husbands, wives, children must be compensated because they have lost souls for no reason or mistakes of their own except that they lived in the North.
“In this country, the constitution allows free living and free enterprise in any part of the country. Is it then an offence that these victims lived in the North? Why should you go and annihilate them, destroy their property and businesses? So compensation should come before amnesty.
“The second thing is to identify who they are. They appear to be faceless, but they must be some people, because the effect of their presence is visible everywhere. And then what are their objectives and what are they really fighting for?
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Angered by last Sunday’s threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, to commence bombing of mosques and killing of Muslim clerics as from May 31 over the terror campaign and killing of Christians by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, northern youths yesterday, promised to deal a deadly blow on the militants should they carry out its devilish plan even as former agitators and clerics in the Niger-Delta differed on planned attack.
Although the Arewa youths did not specify their mode of retaliation, they warned MEND not to arrogate to itself the monopoly of violence.
The northern youths’ warning was handed down by the National President of the Arewa Youths Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Gujungu in Abuja.
Gujungu made it clear that the threat by MEND would not in any way deter northerners and other Nigerians from fighting back should they attempt to make real their threat.
The AYF leader said,”the most recent threat by MEND is indeed, unfortunate, callous and counter productive, especially coming at a time when patriotic Nigerians are making strident effort and sacrifices to resolve the current security challenge.
“MEND, as usual, is putting spanners in the works for unpatriotic selfish economic benefits. It is painful that these elements are threatening more violence despite the colossal amount being paid their leadership and the training of Niger Delta youths abroad by the Federal Government to the obvious disadvantage of other Nigerian youths outside the region.
“MEND and its members are hereby warned that they do not have monopoly of ideas, strength or ability. The youths of the north and other Nigerians are united and shall face them to truncate any of their threats which are aimed at separating Nigerians along religious or ethnic divides for their selfish economic goals.
“It is very sad and mind boggling to note that instead of supporting and ensuring that President Jonathan succeeds in finding a lasting solution to the present security challenge in the north, MEND has re-opened another insecurity theatre in the Niger Delta to cause distraction and make him fail.
“The obvious disrespect, which MEND shows to President Jonathan as not being among those they respect enough to intervene in the ongoing debacle, is food for thought, to say the least,” Gujungu noted.
Some ex-leaders of the militant group contacted by Vanguard, yesterday, opted to keep sealed lips with one of them, saying, “You know our position on this matter. As far as we concerned, MEND is dead, those threatening anything in the name of MEND are paper tigers.” However, the spokesperson of the defunct Niger-Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, “Captain” Mark Anthony, threw his weight behind the planned action by MEND, while a prominent activist, Mr. Augustine Ogedengbe, cautioned against retaliatory attacks by any group from the region.
In the words of “Captain” Anthony, “If MEND can carry out their threat, it will be a welcome development, the Christians Boko Haram roasted with bombs in hundreds are human beings. While we were in the creek, we made preparations to pay Boko Haram in their own coin, but Niger-Delta politicians pleaded with us never to carry out operations in the land.
“Now, my hands are tied as Federal Government has granted me amnesty and my group, NDLF, and I have sworn to an oath never to engage in violence. I am now a toothless bulldog and cannot bite,” he said.
Rev Usifo, who opposed the plan by MEND to take up the gauntlet for Christians said, “They should not burn mosques and kill Muslim clerics, I am not in support of that. But I want to say that Christians should arm themselves and also seek the services of security agencies to guard their churches. In a situation where people come to attack them and burn their churches, they should defend themselves”.
Activist, Mr. Ogedengbe, said he would want MEND and any other group claiming to represent Niger-Delta to be mindful of the fact that Boko Haram was fashioned to frustrate the Federal Government, headed by a Niger-Deltan and carrying out reprisal action could precipitate more bloodbaths.
Nigeria is heading for disintegration unless ——Southern Mandate
Meanwhile, the Southern Mandate has warned that sponsors of the sect must halt their activities forthwith, or else the insurgency will plunge Nigeria into disintegration.
The group said in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, that the sustained explosions were targeted at discrediting the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We foresee that there are no two ways about it –the consequence of Boko Haram’s present activities is the disintegration of our dear country in the near future”.
“In the circumstances, we wonder why some Nigerians could still regard Boko Haram as an enemy only to President Jonathan and his government. However, it is time to tell ourselves the bitter truth: the earlier all Nigerians from the North and South realize and confront Boko Haram as a common enemy, the better for the unity of Nigeria”, the group said in the statement signed by the group’s President-General and South/South Coordinator, Tito Zuokumor and Dr. Wilson Omene, respectively.
The group condemned those who blame President Jonathan for the prevailing insecurity without considering the attendant result of sitting on the fence and allowing sectional violence as a tool to score political goals, with which some political figures have been identified.
“Let the truth be told that there is no region or ethnic nationality in Nigeria that is weak. The West, East and South-south all have the capacity to create a similar scenario of deliberate insecurity in their zones to make any administration ungovernable just to score political points.
“And if such acts of artificial insecurity are perpetrated by a group or groups of persons from a part of the country without resolvable aims and objectives other than to waste innocent lives just to deny a particular region the right to attain the presidency or complete the constitutionally stipulated tenure of office, then we have got to check ourselves, apply restraint in whatever we do, and not acting with impunity as is presently the case with some self-seeking politicians fuelling the Boko Haram activities. Otherwise, we are all heading for the doomsday.
“We are all not unaware of the political aim of Boko Haram, but we fail to see beyond the kite which the group and their sponsors are flying in the air and progressively piloting us to disintegration”, Southern Mandate insisted.
It added that “the serial bomb explosions and death of innocent Nigerians are receiving applause from certain quarters today because those behind the barbaric acts believe they are winning the battle against Dr. Jonathan’s presidency, unmindful of the fact that they are laying landmines for the nation’s disintegration.
“The determination of a few selfish individuals seeking the highest political office to “do everything possible, whether good, bad or terrible to unseat President Jonathan” for fear of becoming too old to occupy the presidency if Dr. Jonathan is allowed to remain in office for two terms, must be stopped”.
The group urged all good-spirited Nigerians to support the federal government in tackling the present menace in order to avoid similar bombs exploding from other parts of the country tomorrow.
It claimed that Nigeria’s unity was being preserved by the petro-dollars from crude oil in the Niger Delta region and that the people of that region had borne the brunt of oil production for several decades in the interest of the entire nation.
Destination of all suicide bombers is hell——Sheik Gumi
In a related development, renowned Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Mahmud Gumi has said hell is the destination of all suicide bombers. The cleric, in a sermon monitored yesterday pointed out that while young men commit suicide, they ought to reflect that those leaders who send them to their deaths do not commit suicide or send their children to die in the same way.
Gumi who has been critical of the Boko Haram sect, said in the sermon: “The prophet said the way to Paradise is easy for those that follow his path. Despite this ease of entering Paradise, those that commit suicide for whatever reason have guaranteed for themselves the Hell Fire forever”.
According to him, “People are forbidden to wish for death talks less of committing suicide. Islam is a practicable religion. Whoever therefore will be taken by fanaticism or sickness or depression to kill himself, he has condemned himself to eternity in the hell fire”.
He stressed that whoever will explode himself with explosives for whatever reason or disguise will also continue to be in his explosion in hellfire forever, stressing that this is what the hadith teaches. Suicides, he warned, are tormented by the same means they employ to kill themselves.
“Today we see young men killing themselves with explosives in the name of Jihad yet they never reflect that those ‘leaders’ that send them to such adventure never commit suicide nor send their children to commit it.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Amid the dilemma created by the rejection of amnesty for members of Boko Haram by the leadership of the Islamist group, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State wants other avenues explored to curb the group’s insurgency.
Specifically, Aliyu, who is also the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, says he and his colleagues are in the position to tackle the security challenges in their respective states.
“We should not wait for the Federal Government to start the process of making peace with Boko Haram. We must stop the blame game of saying `it is Abuja’ (that should end the insurgency), because Abuja is only to complement the efforts of the state governments while the actual decision and the mobilisation of the people rests with the state governors”, he said.
The Federal Government had set up a committee to advise it on the desirability or otherwise of amnesty for the Islamist group which the leadership rejected, saying it was government and not it that needed amnesty.
The Federal Government action came on the heels of the calls for amnesty for Boko Haram by some eminent Nigerians, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, to end the group’s insurgency campaign in the North.
Aliyu, speaking, yesterday, at the 24th Forum of the Speakers of Northern States Houses of Assembly, said there might have been international dimension to the Boko Haram insurgency, stressing that while the proposed amnesty is good, it is not the final solution. He explained that there was the need to explore other avenues, including the enactment of laws that will enable people contribute to their communities to engender lasting peace , harmony and security in the country.
The governor absolved President Goodluck Jonathan on the security challenge in the North and argued that state governors are in the position to tackle the challenge in their respective states because they have been empowered by the Constitution to do so. Aliyu commended the president for the establishment of the amnesty committee on Boko Haram. He urged Nigerians to support Jonathan to succeed in this effort at finding lasting solution to the insecurity confronting the nation.
He pointed out that the insecurity issue should be seen as a collective fight, and called on all Nigerians to be honest and sincere in the discussion of the critical national issue.
The governor told the Speakers: “As Nigerians of northern extraction, you should articulate and aggregate the needs of your people which should form the basis of negotiation with the polity of Nigeria. You should also have a strong position in the negotiation process because this culture, once established, will reduce the pressures being mounted on the leadership particularly at the centre”. “I therefore urge you and your Forum to go back to the grassroots to forge more enduring relationships with the people to understand their needs and aspirations. We need such liaison and interface to bring the people and government together to check the mounting insecurity in the North and other parts of the country,” Aliyu stated .
He called on lawmakers to concentrate on their constitutional duties of law making, appropriation, exposing corruption, inefficiency in the management of public funds and oversight function while allowing the executive and judiciary to carry out their duties. Earlier, the acting Chairman, Northern Speakers Forum, Hon. Aminu Musa Habib, commended Aliyu for creating the atmosphere for a harmonious and cordial working relationship between the three arms of government in Niger State.
According to him, “this is what it should be if our democratic ideals should be allowed to survive and grow like other developed democracies in the world”. Habib noted that the Forum was established with the sole aim of advancing legislative views about democratic governance in Nigeria, with special attention on the interests of the North.
`Amnesty rejection ridicules govt’ Meanwhile, a House of Representatives member from Plateau State, Mr. Bitrus Kaze, says the rejection of amnesty by Boko Haram ridicules the Federal Government.
He also warned that if the rationale behind the offer is an attempt by Jonathan to court the North for his political ambition, he would be disappointed. Kaze, who represents Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, in a statement in Jos, yesterday, wondered why the president would offer amnesty to an unrepentant group which has continue to kill innocent Nigerians despite the offer.
“President Goodluck Jonathan must not sacrifice the security and well-being of innocent citizens in a bid to court regional political patronage. I am unable to see any motivation for rewarding unrepentant killers other than an attempt to please their mentors, who in the long run will never support President Jonathan’s political ambition anyway”, he said.
“In my honest view, granting amnesty to remorseless and unrepentant terrorists is the weirdest policy ever contemplated by any government in the history of Nigeria.
“The pro-amnesty pronouncements and efforts so far by government have been completely rubbished by the intended beneficiaries of the programme themselves; they have continued in their uncurbed destruction of lives and properties of innocent Nigerians virtually on a daily basis.
“It is indescribably sickening that the merchants of death have since declared their innocence and have instead offered amnesty to President Jonathan’s government. The rejection of amnesty by the Boko Haram terrorists has completely exposed the fact that the real motive of the advocates of their amnesty is anything except the security and well-being of Nigerians.
“I am not sure any government has suffered so much ridicule since Nigeria’s independence. Our national pride and sovereignty is being eroded by inconsistent statements and policies which are antithetical to our security and collective well-being.” Ribadu begs Boko Haram
Also, yesterday, the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commissioon, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, appealed to Boko Haram to accept the amnesty offer by the Federal Government.
He stated this in Ikenne while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after he condoled with the matriach of the Awolowo family, Mrs. HID Awolowo, on the death of her son, Oluwole.
According to Ribadu, who was accompained by a former Aviation Minsiter, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Aliyu Moddibo, the activities of the sect had cost the nation fortunes.
“The Federal Government should not rest in its peace moves despite foreseen stumbling blocks.
“It is very sad when I heard that the Boko Haram sect rejected the amnesty offer, but that does not mean government should relent in the move. My view from the onset is that we should pursue the direction of dialogue and not close any door against peace”, the former EFCC boss said.
“From now, the feelers and body language of the sect are not encouraging, but that does not mean we should abandon or give up. We should pursue the direction of peace.
“I urge the Federal Government to continue in the line and direction of looking for a way of addressing and stopping this
” I am also making a direct appeal to those involved to know that they are destroying their own people. They must understand that what they are asking for -Nigeria’s Islamisation – has not worked anywhere in the world and it will not work in Nigeria. What do they want to gain from these senseless killings. In the name of God, let them stop.”
Fani- Kayode, also talking to journalists, condemned the Federal Government’s attitude to the security of the people of the country. He accused government of failing to protect lives and properties, noting that about 4,200 innocent souls had been lost since about two years ago.
He described the administration as an incompetent and irresponsible one, adding that the government is weak in its efforts to consider amnesty Boko Haram .
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Northern Speakers Forum on Sunday appealed to the Federal Government to include Northern Governors in the Amnesty Committee set up to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.
A communiqué signed by the communiqué chairman, Mr Stephen Onmeje, and made available to newsmen in Minna, commended the Federal Government for taking steps that would lead to negotiations and possible acceptance of the amnesty.
The speakers also want various state governments, elders and traditional rulers from the region to ensure that peace returned to the region in the interest of the region’s development.
They called on the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the Hydro Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) Amendment Act, 2012 to ensure the commencement of the commission’s activities.
“Conference commends the Niger Government for contributing substantially to the success of the HYPPADEC and recommended that all states that cut across rivers Niger and Benue to be included in HYPPADEC states.
“On Mambilla Hydro Electricity Project, the forum resolved to continue persuade the Federal Government for the actualisation of the project.
“Conference thanked Federal Government for the construction of new Federal Secretariat in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, in line with its communiqué after the forum’s 22nd meeting held in Lafia on Dec. 10, 2011,’’ it said.
The communiqué also commended the present constitutional amendment process and suggest that the contentious issues, such absolute autonomy of the legislature, local government autonomy and revenue sharing be properly addressed.
It also called on the Federal Government to repair the dilapidated roads, such as Lambatta-Lapai-Bida-Mokwa road in Niger, Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari road in Yobe as well as the completion of Kano-Maiduguri road expansion.
“The conference appealed to the Federal Government to revisit the 33KVA power project from Gombe to Damaturu and Maiduguri,’’ the communique said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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