The meeting between President Jonathan and the
Northern Elders Forum on Wednesday night was useful and if the pledges are
implemented, security challenges in the North will be surmounted, one of the
elders Alhaji Shehu Malami has said. Malami told Daily Trust yesterday all the
concerns raised by the group in its memo to the president in May last year were
addressed, including amnesty to Boko Haram.
Northern Elders Forum on Wednesday night was useful and if the pledges are
implemented, security challenges in the North will be surmounted, one of the
elders Alhaji Shehu Malami has said. Malami told Daily Trust yesterday all the
concerns raised by the group in its memo to the president in May last year were
addressed, including amnesty to Boko Haram.
“The president did not run away from any
question raised,” he said, adding that “from the statistics given out by the
president and his team, there was no doubt that they had given some thought to
our memo.”
question raised,” he said, adding that “from the statistics given out by the
president and his team, there was no doubt that they had given some thought to
our memo.”
Daily Trust learnt that leader of the
delegation Alhaji Maitama Sule had stressed to the President that the elders
did not aim at criticising his administration but helping him to succeed, as
“the success of his government is the success of the entire country.”
delegation Alhaji Maitama Sule had stressed to the President that the elders
did not aim at criticising his administration but helping him to succeed, as
“the success of his government is the success of the entire country.”
After the president spoke, Vice President
Namadi Sambo took his turn and spoke for about 25 to 30 minutes, elaborating
areas covered in the attempt to address the concerns of the elders.
Namadi Sambo took his turn and spoke for about 25 to 30 minutes, elaborating
areas covered in the attempt to address the concerns of the elders.
Another member of the elders delegation,
Barrister Solomon Dalung said the elders told the President they were worried
about the performance of some ministries and how they disregarded the North.
They said these ministries included Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment,
Education and Works, after which the President asked the ministers concerned to
respond to the issues. They suggested the establishment of an amnesty
commission made up of credible Nigerians that would draft the terms for
amnesty.
Barrister Solomon Dalung said the elders told the President they were worried
about the performance of some ministries and how they disregarded the North.
They said these ministries included Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment,
Education and Works, after which the President asked the ministers concerned to
respond to the issues. They suggested the establishment of an amnesty
commission made up of credible Nigerians that would draft the terms for
amnesty.
Dalung said the President responded by saying
he was also concerned about the security issues in the North and that he was
surprised that his comments on amnesty were politicised.
he was also concerned about the security issues in the North and that he was
surprised that his comments on amnesty were politicised.
He said the President expressed shock when he
was told that the North benefitted only 34 percent from the employment in the
public service and asked the Vice president to verify.
was told that the North benefitted only 34 percent from the employment in the
public service and asked the Vice president to verify.
“We said the North got only 18 percent but
when the VP cross checked he said it was more than that, it was 34 percent but
the President said even that figure was unfair for a region that has 19 states
and asked the VP to come out with the accurate statistics so as to address that
anomaly,” Dalung said.
when the VP cross checked he said it was more than that, it was 34 percent but
the President said even that figure was unfair for a region that has 19 states
and asked the VP to come out with the accurate statistics so as to address that
anomaly,” Dalung said.
Source:
Daily Trust
Daily Trust
