The Borno State government has accused the federal government of abandoning it in the face of the security challenges it is facing as a result of the activities of Boko Haram in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Inuwa Bwala who disclosed this to The Nation in an interview in Abuja at the weekend said no federal political office holder had visited the state to either assess the situation or empathise with the state government and its people.
According to him, “There has been no visit from the federal side to Borno State. The President and his Vice have refused to come, share in our plight, if at all. They have not given us moral boost or if at all to show that they care and that we are part and parcel of Nigeria. We had been left on our own. For some time, nobody has shown that they really care, nobody has visited to show solidarity with us.”
Bwala, who disclosed that the highest federal government team to the states were made up of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Chief of Defence Staff, lamented that the federal government is not treating the state as part of the federation.
“I am not just saying it. That is the fact. We have been left on our own. We have been left to our plight as if we are not part of Nigeria. That has been our grouse against the federal government,” he said.
The Information Commissioner disclosed that members of the ruling party in the state have been the victims of attacks since the security challenges started. “I have said it time and time again that criminals and political assassins have penetrated Boko Haram. They started with their grievances but somehow along the line, they have been hijacked by opportunists. That is why the greatest number of people that have been killed today are from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). If not, I don’t see how people from the other political parties are roaming the streets but we in ANPP are being compelled to take cover.”
Bwala said contrary to the impression being created that Borno State is not working, the state, he said, is moving on. “The markets are open, banks are open, work is going on, normal activities are going on, flights come into Maiduguri and leave fully booked everyday. It is just that some of the people spreading things about Borno do not know what is happening there. They don’t live there. They only peddle what they imagine is happening. Life is going on in Maiduguri. Government is working, people go to work. The situation in Maiduguri is not different from the situation in any other place where this crisis had happened and we are on top of it,” he said.
To buttress his claim that the state is working, Bwala said, “You may have heard of the agriculture revolution which we started. We have vast underground water, we have vast arable land, we have a willing population. Because of this, the government said that agriculture, which is the mainstay of our economy, shall be the fulcrum of our agenda. That is why we are importing farm implements. As it is, we have imported over one thousand tractors which we have distributed across the state. We have brought in seedlings. Over 50 million varieties of crops. We are exploring the possibilities of modern poultry, modern cattle rearing, and other agricultural activities. Fish farming has been the tradition of our people along the Lake Chad shores, it is still going on. Government has mapped out strategies of encouraging them by giving out loans and buying what they have as surpluses to sell to Nigerians.”
He advised both indigenes and settlers in the state that fled as a result of security challenges, to return as government is on top of the security situation.
The Information commissioner disclosed that the leaders of thought, opinion leaders and Borno State government are working round the clock to engage the boys and shift their minds from crimes and criminal activities.
Bwala said beyond the issue of religion, it has been discovered that some political elements are using Boko Haram to settle personal scores.
The Nation
Mr. Commissioner for information, thank you for your persuation and the statement that U are on the top of the situation! However, it is glaring that you boss is far bellow the MINIMUM standard expected of State's Chief Security Officer!Nigerians are no fools. I hope your campaign will encourage more Chinnese to come and work in the state.
ReplyDeleteTo PDP, power is a birthright. Once out of power it is hell for others. At the other extreme (Niger Delta), the party resorts to kidnapping dissenters and family members of opposition members, to forestall competition. It is sad, very sad.
ReplyDeleteBravo! Since the Federal Government has ceded Bakassi to Cameroun, they can as well do the same by ceding Borno and Yobe States to Niger Republic lets have some peace.
ReplyDeleteU are missing president and vice president in ur state,so dat they can be killed by devil,if they like they can go,but my hand no dey
ReplyDeleteMr Commissioner you and your boss are on your own.
ReplyDeleteSo you knew how to engage the boys all this while and you were reluctant.
For d chief executive to come with His VP ,and get killed will be explained away as d handworks of Boko Haram .
Put your house in order
Playing the victim card as usual!
ReplyDeleteWith one side of the mouth you say you are abandoned, and with the other, you say you are on top of the situation. How good is your grammar, by the way? Are you qualified to do that job? You say everything is going on just like in other states withe crisis; and you also say people who fled should return. You aim at the president and his vice, but admit that the National Security Adviser was there, as well as the Defense Minister. Are these not the highest ranking executives most relevant to your situation? Why do you want to play politics with a macabre occurrence? How many of the Christians whose relatives were slaughtered; whose businesses were lost; whose lives were cut short have you and your government visited? Go home and put it in order, and stop pointing fingers. It is mischievous to keep justifying the Boko Haram as having 'grievances'. Nothing excuses the barbarism they have visited Nigerians with in the past few years. To say that criminals hijacked the insurrection, you must be ready to show us these criminals to buttress you assertions. Nigerians are not fools, you know!
ReplyDeleteThanks my reasonable commentators, let them put their house in other. If they are thirsty of the President and Vp blood let them go to Abuja!
ReplyDeleteDon't mind him(Mr Commissioner).
ReplyDeleteBorno should be ceded to nearby country.Why calling President & VP to come?To come & die?They should go & wash their clothes first!Mtchwwwwwwww!