Nigerian Governors Reject State Of Emergency In Borno, Yobe, Others
The Nigerian Governors Forum has
rejected any planned declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe
and other troubled states.
The
36 state governors, under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, have
asked the Federal Government to ignore calls for the imposition of
‘state of emergency’ in some states that have witnessed upsurge of
violent killings and destruction of property.
The Forum stated this in a statement by its chairman and Rivers State Governor, Chubuike Amaechi, on Monday.
The
NGF said that the request for emergency rule was being made by people
who do not wish the country well and who want to plunge the nation into
deeper crisis. It asked the government to instead support the affected
states to check violence.
“We urge
the Federal Government to continue to support affected states in the bid
to check violence. The
Federal Government should remain focused and
continue to provide leadership until every part of Nigeria is rid of
violence and insurgency,” NGF said.
“We
also call on the Federal Government to ignore the ongoing agitation for
a state of emergency in some parts of the country. These requests are
being made by people who do not wish our country well and who are bent
on plunging the country into a deeper crisis.
“The
Federal Government should not allow itself to be distracted from our
collective goal of curbing the insurgency in some parts of our country
once and for all.”
The Forum
condemned the violence in Borno, Nasarawa, Benue and Adamawa and other
states and commiserated with the people and governments of the states as
well as the security agencies and families of the victims. It prayed
God to give them and indeed every Nigerian the fortitude to bear the
loss.
It urged the security agencies
to continue to do their jobs as professionally as possible, just as it
appealed to aggrieved individuals and groups in the country to
appreciate the fact that violence can never be a solution to any
problem.
“We have no other country to
call home and it is important that we understand the danger and
futility of destroying our land in the pursuit of a selfish agenda,” it
said.
The Forum also said it is
gratifying that the Federal and State governments are working to get to
the root of the killings and check the orgy of violence, adding, “We are
impressed by the magnanimity of the Federal Government, which has
demonstrated an uncommon love for the country by setting up a Committee
to explore the possibilities of granting amnesty to the members of the
Boko Haram sect.
“It is also a good
step that government has agreed to cooperate fully with the National
Human Rights Commission in the investigation of the killings in Baga.
We
also commend our security agencies for the selfless sacrifice they are
making in the interest of us all to restore calm to all parts of our
country,” it said.
