BEVERLY HILLS, November 18, (THEWILL) – Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, as well as stakeholders of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday rallied support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s extension of emergency rule in three North eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe .
Shettima however advised that the military and other security agencies involved in the fight against terror in the North East need to be focused to win the battle, especially now that the general elections are fast approaching.
Governor Shettima’s support came on a day PDP stakeholders in the state also expressed support for the extension of state of emergency in the three states . Promising to do everything to ensure President Jonathan’s re-election at the 2015 polls, the leaders who rose from meeting in Maiduguri, maintained that it is only the PDP-led administration that can end the over five-year-old Boko Haram insurgency.
“We met again after our successful outing on Monday. We discussed many issues but specifically we restated our support for Mr. President both on his reelection and the ongoing anti- terrorist operations. We rededicate ourselves to wresting power from the APC in Borno and commend the security agencies for their enormous sacrifices in the anti – terror war,” the stakeholders , who were led at a media briefing by the Minister of State for Power, Hon. Mohammed Wakil, said.
According to them, “We are convinced that Mr. President is doing all humanly possible to bring the insurgency to an end. Moreover, we commend the president over his pledge to recapture all occupied territories and rebuild the North East after the war.
Governor Shettima, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, said: “No election in Nigeria should be worth the life of a single Nigerian, I am sure the Nigerian military knows this and is doing everything possible to safeguard lives and property even in the face of challenges.”
“The 2015 general elections is a major factor that all stakeholders, especially the security agencies must be very wary of; so that we do not lose focus for a minute. The ultimate ambition of insurgents all over the world is to defeat constitutional governance and common sense to introduce violence which has no respect for human lives.”
“So, why political parties and politicians get involved in sometimes desperate struggles for power, we should be very thoughtful to realise the need to keep our security agencies focused on the fight against insurgency and not make them lose focus and by that, give room for our common enemies, the insurgents, to extend their violence.
“We should be humane enough to remember that whereas some of us in position of authority and those with connections here and there may have security details attached which would make us less or not vulnerable to being direct victims of insurgency onslaught, there are indeed many citizens of ours who would become directly attacked should we as leaders and security agencies loose focus on fighting insurgents.”
Speaking further in the statement, the governor said: “We must be Godly enough to know that for every single successful attack effected by insurgents, innocent citizens are either killed or subjected to severe sufferings which include turning them into displaced persons in their own States. We should be reasonable to manage our interests in such a manner that what we seek to achieve by 2015 does not threaten the lives of others who may not have even felt what holding political offices offer in their many years of existence.
“We have a sacred duty as leaders and members of political parties and other institutions, of ensuring that we protect and preserve the sanctity of our security agencies, which is this era, is to help defend the overall citizens from the pains insurgents desire to viciously inflict on all of us.”
Applauding the military for remaining focused so far, the governor advised that they should be encouraged to remain so, saying if not for the military, other security agencies and determined civilian volunteers, the insurgents would perhaps have occupied most part of Borno and other areas.
“The military must not only preserve the existence of those we seek to lead when we win elections in 2015 but must be allowed to do so,” he said, even as he asked : “Who do we lead if insurgents succeed over our citizens and occupy our territories? Of what essence will our positions of authority even be without those to be led.”
According to Shettima, “Processes towards the 2015 elections are no doubt a legitimate democratic steps towards our constitutional transition but as leaders and those in position of influence, we must pursue such legitimate democratic processes with the right attitude and values, important of which should be to encourage our security agencies to remain focused on the enemy that threatens our collective existence.” He expressed optimism that with the right focus, the patriotism of the security agencies and volunteers, the continued commitment of those in position of authority to keep providing the right tools and boots, “we can together defeat insurgents and liberate ourselves of their evil intentions.”
Shettima however assured that “For us in Borno State, we are focused on continuing our unflinching support for the military, the police, other security agencies and our youth volunteers because we never forget for a single day, that the 2015 elections would amount to absolutely nothing if insurgents succeed over Borno and its people.
According to him, “The safety of our people and their continued existence are more paramount to us than being in power.”
He also said that he had no doubts about the sincerity of President Jonathan in seeking an extension of the Emergency Rule to make it easier for the security agencies to continue their services to the nation.
“I think an extension is reasonable in the circumstance we have found ourselves much as it also reasonable to take stock of what previous declarations have achieved,” he said, stressing “No democratic government would wish to have military men roaming its streets with armoured tanks.”
About the Author
