Security Council Warns Governors Against Provocative Utterances

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Friday, April 25th, 2014

…Gives Military Ultimatum to Rescue Abducted Chibok Students

Oyewale Oyelola

Chairman, Northern Governors Forum who doubles as Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu has warned governors and other political figures to stop making utterances that could worsen the level of insecurity in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan

Governor Babangida Aliyu said this while addressing media after the expanded National Security Meeting that lasted for seven hours in Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

His words, “We are as leaders must desist from making provocative statements or utterances that can worsen the level of insecurity in Nigeria. You will agree with me that Nigerians would believe any statement coming from governors or other political figure. They believe anything coming from us are authentic and genuine information.

“We must not make statement that would give terrorists impression that they are superior to the government. We must put political sentiment aside and tackle insecurity in the country.”

He urged journalists to be more responsible in reporting issue relating to terrorism and national security.

The Chairman NGF added that, “The media also has a role to play in tackling insecurity in the country. The way the media report these issues also matters. I call on journalists to be more responsible and uphold ethics of their job while reporting national security issues”

Aliyu further said the government would embark on short and long term plan to curb incessant attack of Fulani herdsmen on some communities in Northern part of Nigeria.

The Minister for Defence, General Aliyu Gusau (retired) said the government is doing everything possible to address insecurity in the country.

Gusau disclosed that they have been mandated to rescue about 200 female students students of Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Chibok, Borno state kidnapped by Boko Haram sect about two week ago while writing WAEC.

He assured parents of the affected students that their children would be rescued alive.

Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state stated that they agreed at the meeting that Boko haram crisis should be addressed holistically, adding that the ongoing military operations will be sustained.

Fayemi said, “We agreed at the meeting that Boko Haram crisis should be addressed holistically. The ongoing military operation in some northern state will continue as our military men would be equipped with modern military infrastructure to fight Boko haram insurgency.

“However, other societal problems the led to the crisis such as unemployment would be given special attention.”

Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji disclosed that governors as Chief Security Officer of their respective states must ensure security of lives and properties in their state.

The security meeting which was shifted from Wednesday to Thursday to allow more consultations was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President, Nnamdi Sambo, Minister for Defence, General Aliyu Gusau, Governors of 36 states of the federation, National Security Adviser, Dasuki and member of the national security team.

It would be recalled that 16 APC governors boycotted security meeting called last week by President Jonathan in the wake of Nyanya Bomb blast and Kidnapped of 200 female students in Borno state to protest comment attributed to the PDP publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh alleging that the opposition party was responsible for the bomb blast.

The APC however made a u-turn this week by shifting there state congresses to allow their governors to attend the meeting, to show their commitments to national issues.