–Party donates N200m to Boko
Haram victims
Haram victims
Multiple explosions yesterday
killed three soldiers and several civilians at the time nine state governors of
the new All Progressives Congress (APC) were meeting in Maiduguri, the troubled
capital of Borno state.
killed three soldiers and several civilians at the time nine state governors of
the new All Progressives Congress (APC) were meeting in Maiduguri, the troubled
capital of Borno state.
The governors, who arrived in
Maiduguri on several chartered aircraft, held their meeting behind closed doors
that lasted three hours at the Government House.
Maiduguri on several chartered aircraft, held their meeting behind closed doors
that lasted three hours at the Government House.
The first blast, which occurred
at about noon, was targeted at a patrol vehicle, leading to the death of three
soldiers and an unconfirmed number of civilians.
at about noon, was targeted at a patrol vehicle, leading to the death of three
soldiers and an unconfirmed number of civilians.
A source from inside the
Government House told Blueprint that the Department of State Security
(DSS) had, days back, advised the state government about a planned attack on
the day the APC governors would be meeting in the state capital, but the advise
was not taken seriously.
Government House told Blueprint that the Department of State Security
(DSS) had, days back, advised the state government about a planned attack on
the day the APC governors would be meeting in the state capital, but the advise
was not taken seriously.
Journalists could not get
details of casualties in three other blasts that preceded the first one.
details of casualties in three other blasts that preceded the first one.
Governor of Osun state, Ogbeni
Rauf Aregbesola, who read a one-page communique on behalf of the other
governors, said the forum of the progressive governors reiterated its
“incontrovertible commitment to the emergence of the new party, APC.”
Rauf Aregbesola, who read a one-page communique on behalf of the other
governors, said the forum of the progressive governors reiterated its
“incontrovertible commitment to the emergence of the new party, APC.”
He noted that the group had
chosen to hold the meeting in Borno as part of its show of solidarity with the
citizens of Borno and Yobe states over the security challenges and decided to
donate a token of N200 million to the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in
both states.
chosen to hold the meeting in Borno as part of its show of solidarity with the
citizens of Borno and Yobe states over the security challenges and decided to
donate a token of N200 million to the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in
both states.
The Forum’s communique said:
“Contrary to the image of rampant violence that has been painted to the world,
we have discovered the people going about their businesses without hindrance…
We also sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and
properties and wish to donate a sum of N200 million to the two state
governments for emergency relief and support.”
“Contrary to the image of rampant violence that has been painted to the world,
we have discovered the people going about their businesses without hindrance…
We also sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and
properties and wish to donate a sum of N200 million to the two state
governments for emergency relief and support.”
Aregbesola, who read the
communique after his counterparts from Edo and his Ekiti states, Adams
Oshiomole and Kayode Fayemi respectively, serenaded the session with solidarity
lyrics, commended the Central Merger Committee for recently inaugurating three
major committees on Constitution, Manifesto and Legal/INEC compliance.
communique after his counterparts from Edo and his Ekiti states, Adams
Oshiomole and Kayode Fayemi respectively, serenaded the session with solidarity
lyrics, commended the Central Merger Committee for recently inaugurating three
major committees on Constitution, Manifesto and Legal/INEC compliance.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo
state explained that the forum chose to meet in Maiduguri in spite of the fear
of insecurity to tell the central government that in times of crisis the
leadership ought to show courage rather than alienate states that are in
serious need of support and compassion.
state explained that the forum chose to meet in Maiduguri in spite of the fear
of insecurity to tell the central government that in times of crisis the
leadership ought to show courage rather than alienate states that are in
serious need of support and compassion.
The governors also acknowledged
that several PDP governors and senators are in secret contact with the APC in
respect of joining the party once it becomes registered.
that several PDP governors and senators are in secret contact with the APC in
respect of joining the party once it becomes registered.
Those at the meeting included
the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Umaru
Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Adams Oshiomole of Edo, Kayode
Fayemi of Ekiti state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and
Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu of Yobe state.
the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Umaru
Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Adams Oshiomole of Edo, Kayode
Fayemi of Ekiti state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and
Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu of Yobe state.
The eight visiting governors
visited the Maiduguri Monday market amidst tight security where they assured
citizens that the much needed peace would soon return to the state, as long as
they continued to support the state governor.
visited the Maiduguri Monday market amidst tight security where they assured
citizens that the much needed peace would soon return to the state, as long as
they continued to support the state governor.
They also visited Government
College, Maiduguri, before they departed the state at about 5.30pm.
College, Maiduguri, before they departed the state at about 5.30pm.
Spokesman of the military Joint
Task Force (JTF), Lt Col Sagir Musa, who said he was not in the state as at the
time of the blasts, later sent an SMS statement in which he said, “One soldier
was injured, a civilian killed and two other civilians seriously injured.”
Task Force (JTF), Lt Col Sagir Musa, who said he was not in the state as at the
time of the blasts, later sent an SMS statement in which he said, “One soldier
was injured, a civilian killed and two other civilians seriously injured.”
Source:
Blueprint
Blueprint
