By Mansur Lawal Kaware
Perhaps, President Goodluck Jonathan needs to write an open letter to those trying to impress him by giving project
2015 militant support, because it is not worth the blood being shed in a country he wants rule for another term. This is because, it appears there are some self-appointed vanguards for Goodluck 2015, bent on bringing him back to Aso Rock, without him appointing them to do that Job and they never cared to tell him who they are, because if they do we are sure he will not allow it. As it is, he cannot call them and tell them to stop because they did not consult him before they venture into it. An observation of recent events shows that states where the Governors support to President Jonathan’s 2015 is shaky or some top notchers in the state opposed the President suffers the anger of these self appointed protectors of Jonathan 2015 project. Under the circumstances, the best option left for the President to communicate and stop them is through an open letter.
A good example to cite is Katsina State. Katsina State Governor has been a very loyal member of the PDP and President Jonathan. Katsina State had also enjoyed a very long period of peace, to the extent of being the most peaceful state not only in the North but in the country, from the observation the offence of the Katsina Governor might be his absence at the centenary celebration held on 28/2/2014 in Abuja. For whatever reasons sending his Deputy to such a historic occasion was perceived by the self appointed vanguard for the Jonathan 2015 project to mean the Katsina Governor’s loyalty was becoming shaky and they chose to strike on 13/3/2014 when the President was on a visit to Katsina state and over 100 people were killed. What a coincidence! On the 18/3/2014, Senator Abu Ibrahim representing Katsina South told the Senate that insurgents who attacked villages in Katsina used helicopters in taking food and weapons to their members in the bush. He said the local people usually saw the helicopter at nights landing in the bush. The argument was corroborated by Senator Barnabas Gemade from Benue in his motion over the issue. The Maiduguri/Yobe end Senators also confirmed the allegations. Although military
spokesman Major General Olukolade, the Air force, NAMA, some Pilots talked for and against the possibility or otherwise. But one thing is certain the local people had seen the helicopters before they said they saw it. It was also said to have been seen to hovering Giwa barracks in Borno State before launching attacks.
On the 5th April, 2014, Obasanjo said Jonathan has not told him that he was running. On the 6/4/2014, Gunmen attacked a church in Ijebu-Igbo, Oke – Sopen of Ogun State and killed one person, as other worshipers took to their heels. What a coincidence! But indications have it that the threat appeared to have started paying off, as Femi-Fani Kayode reportedly one of the Obasanjo’s most closest confidants was in Aso rock, on 8/4/2014 and when asked by journalists, he refused to give clear reasons for his visit, while a group that called itself Obasanjo loyalists was on the screen on 14/4/2014 saying they remained in PDP. In Jigawa State, a meeting of PDP Governors was held in Dutse on 8/4/2014 with 13 governors and 3 Deputy Governors in attendance. The meeting called on Sule Lamido to remain in PDP and support Jonathan for 2015. The Jigawa Governor eluded giving an immediate answer on his support to Jonathan 2015 project and there was an attack in Gwaram Local Government of the state, on 9/4/2014, what a coincidence! There is a school of thought, which holds that the violence were being planned to make elections impossible and give the President additional period. The adherents of that school of thought are entitled to their own opinion. But as for me, I do not buy that idea, because I do not expect the President to go for short extension instead of contesting for a full term.
The case of Zamfara State is similar to that of Borno and Yobe. The offences of these three states are likely to be the perpetuation of opposition control of the political powers. These are states that since 1999 there has never been a change of hands in governance by slipping into the ruling party’s control and as such posed serious threats to Jonathan’s project 2015. While Borno and Yobe are neighbours in the North-East, Zamfara is from the North-West.
One may however think that because of presence of its sons in the current administration it may have some relief. The new Minister of Defence General Aliyu Gusau and the Inspector General of Police M.D Abubakar are both from Zamfara State. Despite the fact that these two top security chiefs hailed from the state, about 200 people were
reportedly massacred in the state on 7/4/2014. What an insult! In the case of Benue killings, Governor Gabriel Susuwan has exonerated himself from blame for coming out to state clearly that the attacks were not carried out by Fulani herdsmen, but by some people who dressed in Fulani attire. It is worthy to note that, Boko Haram, Gunmen, Fulani herdsmen, Cattle rustlers are all members of one group operating in different names at different areas. These can be understood because their patterns and mode of attacks are the same. They engaged in massive killing of people, burnt down their houses, and abduct their women to their camps in the various forests they chose to stay. The challenge of saving Benue killings now rest on the shoulders of Senator David Mark, the Senate President who heads the legislature often referred to in Nigeria as the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. Mr. Mark sat there idle, folded his arms watching his people being killed innocently. What an insult!
The Abuja Nyanya Bomb blast of Monday 14/4/2014, perished away with more than 70 lives and the PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh was quick to accuse APC of having a hand in the cause of the tragedy. That was a joke taken too far. Mr. Metuh should learn to differentiate between political issues and serious matters, such a statement could be misinterpreted to mean lack of concern by Mr. Metuh and the PDP, but was rather seen as an opportunity to carryout a political game plan, which could in turn cast doubt in the minds of Nigerians against the entire political class. About 13 hours after the Abuja blast, over 100 girls of Chibok Girls Secondary School were abducted by unknown gunmen in Borno State. How can these be happening in a country that claims to be sovereign. The action beats the imagination of any sensible human being on earth. It has never been heard of in any country of the present day civilized world. The twin incidents occurred under 24 hours, yet the following morning
Tuesday 15/4/2014 President Goodluck Jonathan was in Kano attending a political rally. What an insult! In any country of the world, the primary responsibility of the Government is to ensure security of lives and properties
of its people any other things can follow later. That is however near absent in Nigeria today.
As at 21/4/2014, the principal of Chibok Girls Secondary School said 190 girls were still missing and not 77,
while parents say 234 girls were abducted not 129. On the other hand a meeting of the South-South Youth leaders and Elders in Port-Harcourt on 21/4/2014 produced a communiqué signed by Cross Rivers Chairman of Traditional Rulers Dr. Okon Edet and leader of Niger-Delta Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo saying Boko Haram attacks could not stop Jonathan in 2015, as they see the attacks being the handwork of those opposed to Jonathan’s re-election. The South-South Leaders can make such a statement because they and their people are not the ones affected by the attacks, and do not see the victims as their brothers and sisters. Taking the stand indicates that other Nigerians who are not from the South-South do not matter to them.
Their only concern is to see Jonathan return to Aso Rock in 2015. It will be better if they tell the President the truth. All these comments relating opposition with Boko Haram attacks are superstitious and could at best be dismissed as diversionary.
Under the circumstances, Jonathan has three options left for him now. Firstly, he has to stop the killings promptly, if he fails to stop the killings, he should honourrably resign his position. In the event President
Jonathan failed to stop the killings and refused to resign, the National Assembly should open a process of impeaching him.Concluded.
Mansir Lawal Kaware wrote in from Katsina.
