Governor of Niger State and Chairman, Northern states Governors Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has expressed fears over possible international backing to the Boko Haram Islamist sect. He said there might be more to the issue of Boko Haram than meets the eye, especially the possibility of international dimension to the issue of the insurgence in parts of the northern region.

The governor’s position may have been against the backdrop of the alleged rejection of amnesty offer to the sect members by the Federal Government. The governor who stated this yesterday while declaring open the 24th forum of the Speakers of northern states House of Assembly said there was the need to explore other avenues, including the enactment of laws that will enable people to contribute to their communities to engender lasting peace , harmony and security in the country.

Absolving President Goodluck Jonathan of the current security situation in parts of the country, he argued that all governors have the capacity to tackle the security challenges in their respective states because they have been empowered by the constitution.

He commended the President for the bold step taken for the establishment of the amnesty committee on the Boko Haram and urged Nigerians to encourage and support him (the President) to succeed in the onerous effort aimed at finding lasting solution to the insecurity challenges bedeviling the nation. Aliyu postulated that the issue of security must be seen as a collective fight, and called on all Nigerians to be honest and sincere in the discussion of national issues.

Governor Aliyu told the legislators that as Nigerians of northern extraction, they should articulate and aggregate the need of their people which should form the basis of negotiation with the polity of Nigeria. He called on the legislature to concentrate on its constitutional duties of law making, appropriation, exposing corruption and inefficiency in the management of public funds and oversight functions while allowing the executives and judiciary to carry out their constitutional duties.

Earlier, the Acting chairman, Northern Speakers Forum, Hon. Aminu Musa Habib commended the governor for creating conducive atmosphere for harmonious and cordial working relationships among the three arms of government in the state. He noted that the forum was established with the sole aim of advancing their legislative views about the democratic governance in Nigeria with special attention to the interest of the North.

-Sun

*Says blame game must stop

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 .

President Goodluck Jonathan and the ‘ghosts’

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 .

-Vanguard

Governor Babangida Aliyu stated this on Wednesday when a delegation of the state branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers visited him in Minna.

Aliyu, who said he was shocked by FIDA’s report of harmful practices against women in the state, said his administration would comprehensively look into the allegations.

The committee, he added, would look into the incidence of same-sex marriage and female circumcision said to be going on in parts of the state.

The committee, headed by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr, Ibrahim Sule, has two weeks to submit its detailed report the governor.

Other members of the committee are the Special Adviser on Health, the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and their education counterparts, while FIDA will provide the secretariat and the Secretary of the committee.

The governor promised to give the necessary support to the organisation to enable it to play its role of championing the cause of women.

Earlier, the FIDA Chairperson, Hajia Fati Takuma, solicited the assistance of the government in stamping out these practices in the state.

Takuma also urged the state government to come out with legislation on how to stem the trend and punish offenders.

Meanwhile, the governor, while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the Nigerian Turkish Nile International University, Prof. Huseyin Sert, appealed to parents to give the education of their children a priority.

According to Aliyu, any community that relegates the education of its children to the background, will return to the Stone Age.

He also called on public-spirited individuals and philanthropists to support the funding of education, noting that government could not bear the burden alone.

Via Punch

Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi
| credits: File copy
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, was among six governors that were not at the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum meeting, which was held in Abuja on Monday night.

Also absent were governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Dr. Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi); Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto); Musa Kwakwanso(Kano) and Sulivan Chime).

Eight other governors, who were not at the meeting, sent their deputies unlike the six absentee governors.

Seven governors and an acting governor(Taraba State), were also in attendance.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, was also at the meeting.

Anenih was accompanied by the Secretary of the Board, Sen. Walid Jibril and a former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo.

A former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, was also at the meeting, which was held at Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

The refusal of Amaechi to attend the meeting might not be unconnected with the reported plans by the Presidency to remove him as the chairman of the NGF.

The Presidency is believed to be using some governors to remove Amaechi, believing that he was not working with the move to return President Goodluck Jonathan to power in 2015.

Via Punch

 Nigerian Tribune gathered that  the incident occurred around 6.15 p.m. just as the durbar was about to be rounded off and as the royal gunmen added colour to the occasion by  shooting sporadically into the air with their dane guns as it is the tradition.

It was learnt that one of the gunmen, who is yet to be identified, had an accidental discharge that led to the death of the 40-year-old identified as Hajiya Isa Aishatu, who was said to be standing on the balcony of the palace and watching the   durbar.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Pius Edobor,  denied knowledge of the incident, saying that, “the police are yet to get any official report on the incident.”

In another development, tragedy struck on Monday at Maje Village  in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State as a Fulaniman, who was allegedly drunk,  killed a passerby in order to escape arrest in the village.

 Nigerian Tribune   gathered that on the fateful Monday, the market day of the village, some Fulani youths had trooped to the village  market to celebrate sallah after which a fight broke out among them.

It was further gathered that the vigilance group in the area intervened and in the process, one of the suspects took to his heels.

The fleeing suspect,   according to sources, met someone coming from the opposite direction and he was said to have  descended on him and matcheted him to death, thinking that he was among those trying to arrest him.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for  Niger State police command, DSP Pius Edobor, confirmed the incident and arrest of the suspect.

-Tribune

Nigerian Tribune  gathered  that the victim, Mallama Hadiza Hajara Umar, was ordered to be remanded in Minna prison custody  by the court, presided over by the judge, for allegedly  getting  married to one Philip Makura, a Christian adherent in the community.

Further investigations revealed that the  effrontery of  Hajara to have married Makura was said to have irked the anger of some of her  relations who effected her arrest  and  promptly dragged  her before the Sharia Court for prosecution.

Nigerian Tribune,  however, learnt that the case had taken a new turn, as the Sharia court’s trial judge had been accused of taking advantage of his position to   seduce and abduct Hajara.

In the writ of summons, filed by her counsels , a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, on Thursday, in Minna,  the plaintiffs had alleged that Hajara was carrying three  months pregnancy  for Philip and had been in courtship with him for   over five years, allegedly  with the consent of both parents.

In his motion on notice, her counsel,  an Abuja-based human rights activist, Mr Gavers C. Ihematulam has slammed a  N25million suit  on the said  Sharia court judge, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Niger State and four others which is  to be paid to the applicants for aggravated damages, owing to violation and threatened abuse  of their fundamental human  rights as  enshrined under the 1999 Constitution.

via Tribune

Minna – The Niger Government has completed a partnership arrangement with a Canadian firm to produce 26 million chickens annually, the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mustapha Lemu, has said.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting on Thursday in Minna, Lemu said that the collaborative arrangement followed discussions between the government and the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.

Lemu said that the proposed poultry farm which would operate on 35 hectares located within the airport city project, would also produce 13 million crates of egg yearly.

He said that the farm was expected to provide direct employment for 10,000 indigenes and ensure the development of small businesses in the area.

He said that the state government was expected to provide N40 million as its contribution for the take-off of the farm, adding: “the farm will revolutionise farming in the state.”

He said the state would benefit from technologies on food processing and preservation, adding that farmers would maximise their gains by reducing post-harvest losses on perishable farm produce.

“Small and medium-sized machinery and technology for juice extraction are readily available and could be acquired and installed through linkages with selected firms in Canada.’’  (NAN)

-via Vanguard

Kawu was ousted based on a vote of no confidence supported by 21 members while three opposed it.
He was removed through a motion moved by Andrew Doma representing Shiroro and supported by Abass Wazire representing Magama.
Kawu has been replaced by Adamu Usman, who was immediately sworn in.

It will be recalled that Gammunu was impeached last Tuesday for incompetence after a motion was moved by Bashir Loko Goma, representing Wushishi under matters of urgent public importance.

It will also be recalled that Gammunu had on Monday reportedly dragged Kawu and 19 others before a Minna High Court, seeking to restrain the new speaker from performing the duties of the office pending the determination of the case.

Meanwhile, before Tuesday’s impeachment, civil servants in the state had marched on the assembly complex, demanding Kawu’s removal.

-Vanguard

A primary school situated at Abaganaram ward of Maiduguri metropolis was set ablaze on Wednesday night by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, residents of the area alleged.

When Nigerian Tribune went to the area at about 4.00 p.m., it was discovered that the fire started at about 12.00 p.m until the morning on Thursday.

A resident, who spoke to Nigerian Tribune on the incident, said people were alleging that the fire was set by members of the Boko Haram sect.

“We saw the smoke and we began to wonder because earlier, there were gunshots around here and people locked themselves in their homes. Later, somebody said there was fire on a building. We were all afraid to go out but this morning, they were saying it was Boko Haram, so, we did not know whether it was Boko Haram or those boys that always smoke Indian hemp at the school,” Maman Bala told Nigerian Tribune.

According to her, some young men are in the habit of smoking Indian hemp at the primary school, adding that the police had come on many occasions to arrest them but they would be released later and they would return to the school to smoke.

She wondered why Boko Haram would set a school ablaze when there was nobody in the school.

“I don’t think this was Boko Haram. They always say Boko Haram for everything now, but I think those boys smoking were responsible for the burning.’’

The police, on Thursday, again fell victim to the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect in Kano and Niger states, as members of the sect killed four policemen while two others sustained varying degrees of injury.

The police command said 15 suspects had subsequently been arrested.

However, there were conflicting report as to the actual location where the four policemen were killed. A source said that the attack was very close to the new Inspector of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, a police source disclosed that the incident occurred on the Bayero University Kano (BUK) road, after Gidan Murtala in Kano metropolis.

According to a statement issued and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Magaji Musa Majiya and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, gunmen killed two policemen, injured two others who were on patrol on the Bayero University Kano (BUK) road.

He said: “Today, Thursday, February 23, 2012, at about 08:30hrs, on BUK road by Island after Gidan Murtala, unknown gunmen on four motorcycles attacked our policemen on foot patrol.

‘’As a result of the attack, two died on the spot, while two were injured and are now receiving treatment at Hospital.’’

ASP Majia added that military helicopter was sighted hovering over the area, while the road is also jampacked with heavy traffic due to through search and check by the combined team of the policemen and soldiers.

The spokesman for the Joint Task Force in Kano State, Lieutenant Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the arrest, saying the security operatives searched the area and arrested four suspects.

He disclosed that the suspects were arrested during a gun duel at Hotoro General area and declined to give further details of causalities during the attack.

In a related development, an unconfirmed report said that on Wednsday night, at Naibawa park, on the outskirts of Kano, four gunmen killed a civilian and went away with his Toyota Camry car.

An eyewitness said the four gunmen shot the owner of the car while he was about to open the door of the car.

He said that immediately they shot the man, he fell and the suspected gunmen drove away the car.

However, all efforts to confirm the incident proved abortive.

In Niger State, tragedy struck in Minna, on Wednesday night, following the killing of two policemen attached to the state police command by suspected members of Boko Haram sect, while the slain policemen were on a stop and search duty at the city gate on the Minna-Paiko/Suleja expressway on the outskirts of the state capital.

The killing of the two policemen occurred barely one week after a similar incident occured in the state capital, when some fleeing gunmen suspected to be members of the sect killed three policemen, including an Inspector of Police and a police sergeant, at the General M.I Wushishi Housing Estate, at the Eastern bye-pass area of the state capital and a police corporal at Maje community, in Suleja Local Government area of the state.

Nigerian Tribune investigation further revealed that the attack on Wednesday had caused apprehension among the residents in the state.

Nigerian Tribune further learnt that the two policemen, whose identities were unknown at the time of filing this report, were killed by some fleeing gunmen at about 9.30 p.m. at a police nipping point in Minna.

Meanwhile, when contacted by telephone, the spokesman for the state police command, Mr Richard Oguche (ASP), confirmed the attack but declined to give further details.

He said: “Please, I will call you back. I am going to see my commissioner. Two of our men have just been killed at Tunga. I will call back to give details.’’

Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria said, on Thursday, that his country was offering support for the Nigeria’s fight against the Boko Haram sect, but ruled out sending troops into a region vital to American oil supplies.

Ambassador Terence McCulley said the United States (US) was encouraging Nigeria to reach out to residents in the North while using security forces to target and apprehend terrorists.

He said the US was also considering opening a consulate in Kano, the biggest city in Nigeria’s North, to burnish America’s own image in a region where many people were still suspicious of the Western influence.

However, he was unequivocal when asked in an interview with the Associated Press whether US troops should be deployed in Nigeria.

“That’s not on the table. No, absolutely not.

“It’s of a great concern to us. We’ve seen an increase in sophistication, we’ve seen increased lethality. We saw at least a part of the group has decided it’s in their interest to attack the international community.

“It’s not going to be solved exclusively by treating it as a security issue,” McCulley said, adding that “it needs a holistic solution. Government needs clearly to have a targeted approach on security that targets the bad guys that target perpetrators of these horrible attacks and don’t injure innocent civilians or damage property.”

While McCulley declined to give details, he said that “adequate systems” were now in place to receive such warnings and that the US maintained “robust relations” with Nigerian intelligence agencies.-Tribune

Sanusi said he was making the donation on the strength of the bank’s corporate framework, enshrined in its Act, adding that when the incident happened in Madalla, he was outside the country and when he came back, the Kano blast happened.

According to him, he planned the Kano donation on Friday, while that of Madalla was scheduled for Monday.

While condemning the perpetrators of the blast, he said when Christians were attacked on Sundays or Muslims on Fridays, it was an attack on their faith.

Earlier, the parish priest of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Reverend Isaac Achi, had recalled that a total of 127 persons were affected in the blast, though 44 died.

Responding, the Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocess, Dr Martins Igwemezie Uzoukwu, thanked the management of the bank for the gesture, adding that “your coming has given us enough will to quench the sorrows of our heart for those that died.”

-Tribune