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| President Goodluck Jonathan |
President Goodluck Jonathan Monday maintained that the Federal Government is adopting new security architecture to end the Boko Haram insurgency, farmers/herdsmen crisis and other security challenges in the country.
He made the remark when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders from the North Central zone led by former PDP Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali paid him a solidarity visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Stressing that the government through the National Security Adviser (NSA) is tackling the security issues in the country, he said that the North Central zone is a zone for the PDP.
He said: “The security personnel are moving in to strengthen the conventional security, that is the police. But we are working very hard with the NSA office to make sure that the security challenges that we have across the country, whether in Borno state or the kidnapping in Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia and so on.”
“We are coming up with different architecture that will deal with this insurgence. As we progress, we will begin to bring the situation under control.” He said
Disclosing that litigations in court has been delaying the privatization process of Ajaokuta Steel project, he promised that the issues will soon be resolved.
Jonathan said: “Of course on Ajaokuta, the key thing is that we had some challenges with the privatisation process. The people that got it there were some issues but because of these litigations, the project was held down.”
“And all along, we have been trying one way or the other but the project cannot take off very effectively because we want the private sector to come in robustly. If we must get out from where we are but they will find it difficult except the legal issues are sorted out.”
“So, what the AGF is saying is that the issues are being sorted out because without mines and steel, the nation cannot industrialize, yes you can import but its easier when you are producing locally because we believe that Ajaokuta will be one of the bedrock for own industrialization programme. So it is a project that is dear to anybody who wants to move this country forward.” He added
Stressing that the north central is known for solid minerals and provides food, power for the whole country among other good things, he said: “We thank you for this solidarity visit and for giving us a senate president that has been able to stabilize the National Assembly.”
On the governors’ forum crisis, he said: “The governors from the zone who have been stabilizing the country because the way some of the governors talk and behave, if 50 percent of the governors behave that way, probably, we would have vacated this place and allow others to come and manage it for us. But they have been able to help to stabilize the whole country. When the governors forum became a monster and we had a lot of challenges, it was the north central that came on board to stabilize the governors’ forum.”
“So, the zone has been able to produce very great leaders, not just great leaders but they are patriotic leaders, so, we will continue to work with this zone, we will continue to encourage you. As we approach elections next year, let us know the problems on time, we will work with you to ensure PDP continues to maintain the zone,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the governors from the zone, Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam urged for the full attention of the Federal Government in tackling the farmers/Fulani crisis in the zone, noting that the Fulanis fermenting the trouble are not the normal ones as they are carrying sophisticated weapons and well trained to kill.
According to him, once the north central is destabilized, all the other zones will be easily destabilized.
Pointing out that the crisis needs to be brought under control as the 2015 general election is fast approaching, he expressed worries that since the Fulani attacks in the zone, no single individual has been arrested.
He said: “The security situation in the north central. Virtually all the states in the zone are affected by the activities of the ‘herdsmen’ in quote, we believe that its not just the Fulani herdsmen that are doing what they are doing in the zone but some insurgents who are camouflaging as Fulani men.”
“Because the Fulani men that will all know and we have lived with them, some of them are part and parcel of the north central, we know that they carry sticks and at times, few of them carry den guns to catch bush meat for Tiv people.”
“But Mr. President, what we have witnessed lately are well trained people who are trained to kill and destroy and the manner of destruction is so massive and is unimaginable. The north central is very worried. The state mostly affected are plateau, Nasarawa and Benue. That is not to say that other states are not affected,” he said.
Even as he said that he cannot claim ignorant of the efforts the President is making to address security issues in the country, he said that he had to call for special attention for the north central zone because of its stabilizing factor.
“The reason being that if the north central is disorganized, Mr. President you are disorganized because that is where you have your stability and so whatever it will take Mr. President to address the security challenges that we have in the north central.
“You have just directed the military to move in, they have started moving in between Nasarawa and Benue. As of last night, there were lot a security movement between Benue and Nasarawa state and we hope that the same thing will be applicable in Plateau state because the state has had a longer history of this than any one of us.
“Mr President, what has worried us as governors who are also leaders is that inspite of the magnitude of destruction, no one person has been arrested and these destroyers move in large numbers. We are worried that without appropriate sanctions, they will continue with impunity because once people are not sanctioned, they don’t take that serious and I think the appropriate example must be shown.
“Mr president how these people get their arms, because they are carrying very sophisticated weapons, is also an issue that we are worried about and I believe that Mr. president is also very worried because all of us swore to the constitution to protect lives and property.
“But in a situation where we have some evil men deliberately conniving with some forces that we believe are subterranean forces to destroy this country and the good achievements that you have put in place should be something that should worry all of us. So, the governors of the zone ask me to urge you to continue to put in all efforts in addressing these very important security problems,” he said
He went on: “One great U.S president said if we want peace, we must prepare for war. I think that the fact that we are peaceful, a lot of our neighbours are not happy about it and we must be ready because we are being, to some large extent, attacked in our country by people that are not known to us.
“I have interacted with a lot of Fulani friends and they have told me that those people are not the fulanis that are indigenous to Nigeria. Last night, the president general of Miyetti Allah spent the night with me in Benue state. He told me there was a need for us to form a joint force, that is the Benue and the Fulani communities to fight these people who are creating these problems which clearly shows that these are people who are foreign even to the fulanis that we know.”
“And so we are all worried because elections are around the corner and most of your strong areas which will bring millions of votes are being destroyed and people are moving out enmasse. We pray that God will keep giving you the wisdom, the knowledge to tackle these security problems.” He said
The Senate President, Senator David Mark, maintained that the North Central zone remained essential to the stability of Jonathan’s administration and that is why some unscrupulous people want to destabilise the zone using insecurity.
He promised the President maximum support from the North-Central zone, especially from the National Assembly which he heads despite the antics of those he called ‘rebels’ in the House.
“We cannot betray you, our word is our bond. We want you to trust us because we trust you. All we want is mutual confidence, and so far, you have shown it” he said
Mark assured that the huge electoral support Jonathan got from North Central in 2011 will be repeated in 2015.
The leader of the delegation, Ahmadu Ali said that the PDP North Central remained proud of him and commended him for what he has been doing for the zone.
Declaring that the zone will continue support Jonathan in future elections, urged Jonathan to find solution to the challenges hindering the Ajaokuta Steel Complex from contributing to national development.
He also canvassed for the establishment of a solid minerals development commission for the zone.
PDP Chairman, Adamu Muazu noted that the PDP will continue to wax stronger in the zone, he said that the centre will give the 100% support especially towards the 2015 general election.
Among the delegation include Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, Kogi State governor, Idrus Wada.
Also on the visit are the former Kogi State governor, Ibrahim Idris, former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, and Senator Khariat Gwadabe.
Many cabinet members from the zone were also among the delegate.
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