The ACF also kicked against the extension of the state of emergency in the North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, where the violent Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram, have been on rampage.
The ACF said it was absolutely unnecessary to extend the emergency rule in the three north-eastern states. It noted that rather than extending the emergency rule in the three states, the Federal Government should bring the entire country under emergency rule because of the state of insecurity in the land.
The group, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Col. Paul Ubah (retd.), in Kaduna on Thursday , also lashed out at President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, for their poor handling of the abduction of the schoolgirls from the Government Girls' Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State.
The statement said in part, "The President did not approach the abduction with a sense of urgency nor seriousness until ordinary Nigerians poured out on to the streets demanding greater action. The First Lady remained characteristically disruptive of all efforts by concerned Nigerians. Her reaction to the street protests was to set up her own panel of inquiry to which she summoned federal and state government officials, including wives of governors.
"She conducted a mock trial of the officials on live television and at the end of it, declared that no schoolgirls were missing, suggesting that the entire story was some hoax constructed to embarrass her husband."
The Forum noted that the President's poor handling of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls by the Boko Haram insurgents was not different from the entire insurgency war that had engulfed the northern states.
It said, "The response of the Federal Government, particularly President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, to the abduction of over 200 students by Boko Haram from the Government Girls' Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on the 14th of April, 2014, is disappointing.
"The approach of the President to the tragic abductions of the Chibok girls is not much different from his handling of the entire insurgency war that has engulfed the North, especially the North-East region since 2009.
"Even the President's most ardent supporters readily agree that his prosecution of the insurgency war has been hesitant, feeble and half-hearted. The President hardly ever took action until he came under pressure to do so from people outside his government.
"The mounting pressure from local and international communities is now compelling him to talk of deploying more troops to confront the Boko Haram insurgents. His belated acceptance of help from foreign powers had come only after the abduction of over 200 young girls, stirring worldwide outrage."
On the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, the northern body urged the National Assembly not to succumb to pressure from the presidency to impose emergency rule on the states.
The forum noted that there was no reason for the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule on the three north-eastern states because it had not solved the problem of insurgency in the states.
The body stressed, "We caution that the request before the National Assembly to approve the extension of the year-long state of emergency declared in the North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, be considered against its impact so far, which can only be described as disastrous.
"Before the state of emergency was declared in the three states, between 2009 and 2012, the total causalities of the insurgency were less than 1,500. But this figure sky-rocketed to over 2,700 during the one year of the emergency, according to figures released by Amnesty International.
"During the emergency rule, Boko Haram had attacked and destroyed large swathe of areas in the North-East, including 18 towns and cities, not counting schools, mosques and churches.
"It is not clear to the public why the violence has been escalating since the imposition of the state of emergency on those three states. If we counsel against the continuation of the emergency rule, we are only being guided by our ugly experiences thus far."
So wat do u expect d Fed Govt to do, completely withdraw d troops?
ReplyDeleteI don't know y our political leaders like to play politics or b sentimental on issues dat has to do wit national security, pls just b true to urselves, ACF u r only trying to protect d interest of these northern governors who r interested in embezzling d security money!
Gee.
ACF r right,state of emergency declared has nt done anything in curbing insurgency.So another method has to be employed.is either GEJ is nt getting it right or he has hidden agenda by seeking for extension of state of emergency.let him try something else.
ReplyDeleteAll of them are foos. They created BH. Why do they cry?
ReplyDeleteEveryone's blaming the President, don't forget he's just one man human. We need to dwell more what's bringing about the insurgency. If it is because the North wants to clinch power or because they want a northerner in Aso Rock. Whatever their reason is,we need to ascertain rightly the cause before we can talk about conquering them or bringing them to order. We all are an integral part of this entity called Nigeria, & our actions &/or inactions are contributive to the whole situation. While we hold the President responsible for not being able to prefer rapid solutions to this circumstance,the Elders of the region in question need to realise that government is not one person but a group. If Jonathan has fail it means all the people who form part of that government have failed. Democratic Government is government for the pple,by the people. If Jonathan's government fails,we all have. Therefore, let's all stop blaming & do something,no matter how small.
ReplyDelete