Borno State governor Alhaji Kashim
Shettima has challenged both the federal and the state government to join hands
to discover the Boko Haram ghosts in order to negotiate with them.
Shettima has challenged both the federal and the state government to join hands
to discover the Boko Haram ghosts in order to negotiate with them.
The challenge was the highpoint of the address Governor Shettima
presented to President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion of the president’s
working visit to the state yesterday.
presented to President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion of the president’s
working visit to the state yesterday.
The president had, on Thursday in Damaturu, the Yobe State
capital, said that the federal government would not grant amnesty to ghosts
under the guise of Boko Haram members.
capital, said that the federal government would not grant amnesty to ghosts
under the guise of Boko Haram members.
But the governor in his address yesterday said, “We are
convinced beyond any doubt that the ultimate resolution of this crisis lies in
the resort to a political solution.”
convinced beyond any doubt that the ultimate resolution of this crisis lies in
the resort to a political solution.”
Quoting from a renowned American author, Robert Fulghum,
Governor Shettima said: “We must know and accept that peace is not something we
just wish for; it’s something we have to make ourselves, it is a gift we offer
to ourselves. We do not do a favour to anyone by charting the course of peace
because trouble is mobile; it steadily comes to our safe homes when we fail to
share efforts to stop it from breathing in the very far.”
Governor Shettima said: “We must know and accept that peace is not something we
just wish for; it’s something we have to make ourselves, it is a gift we offer
to ourselves. We do not do a favour to anyone by charting the course of peace
because trouble is mobile; it steadily comes to our safe homes when we fail to
share efforts to stop it from breathing in the very far.”
Remarking that life is a continuum for the resolution of
conflicts, Governor Shettima urged the federal government not to shy away from
taking the option. “Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, it
would be defeatist to foreclose any discussion with the sect, especially with
the moderate elements of the Boko Haram,” he urged.
conflicts, Governor Shettima urged the federal government not to shy away from
taking the option. “Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, it
would be defeatist to foreclose any discussion with the sect, especially with
the moderate elements of the Boko Haram,” he urged.
While thanking the federal government for the anticipated
intervention to contain insurgency in the state and other states in the
country, the governor also appealed for more efforts to be geared towards the
deployment of cutting-edge technology for the attainment of rapid success. “The
widespread deployment of CCTV cameras, devices for the detection of arms,
ammunition, bombs and explosives will go a long way in ameliorating the
situation,” he said.
intervention to contain insurgency in the state and other states in the
country, the governor also appealed for more efforts to be geared towards the
deployment of cutting-edge technology for the attainment of rapid success. “The
widespread deployment of CCTV cameras, devices for the detection of arms,
ammunition, bombs and explosives will go a long way in ameliorating the
situation,” he said.
Shettima specifically enjoined the federal government to come up
with a Marshall Plan for the north-east geopolitical zone in the same way it
did for the Niger Delta to tackle the twin menace of poverty and insecurity.
with a Marshall Plan for the north-east geopolitical zone in the same way it
did for the Niger Delta to tackle the twin menace of poverty and insecurity.
According to him, integral to that Marshall Plan should be the
recharging of the dwindling Lake Chad, the water resource which has the
potential of positively transforming the lives of more than 30 million people
spread on the shores of the region.
recharging of the dwindling Lake Chad, the water resource which has the
potential of positively transforming the lives of more than 30 million people
spread on the shores of the region.
Governor Shettima suggested, among other issues, the following
specifics to constitute part of the proposed plan:
*The recharging of the fast-shrinking Lake Chad through the diversion of water
from River Congo.
specifics to constitute part of the proposed plan:
*The recharging of the fast-shrinking Lake Chad through the diversion of water
from River Congo.
*The facilitation for the quick exploration and exploitation of
oil in the Chad Basin area as seismic analysis shows large deposits of
hydrocarbons so that Borno State can join the league of oil-producing states.
oil in the Chad Basin area as seismic analysis shows large deposits of
hydrocarbons so that Borno State can join the league of oil-producing states.
*The completion of the 330KV line to enable the state enjoy a
much improved supply of electricity.
much improved supply of electricity.
*The construction in the state of a solar and/or wind-powered
energy farm with an installed capacity of 30 kilowatts.
energy farm with an installed capacity of 30 kilowatts.
*An intervention on almajiri quranic education – called
“Tsangaya” in Borno State.
“Tsangaya” in Borno State.
*The accelerated completion of the Kano-Maiduguri dual
carriageway, the only one of its kind in the entire north-east zone.
carriageway, the only one of its kind in the entire north-east zone.
Source: Leadership
