Mark: Make Your Grouse Known President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has pleaded with members of the Boko Haram to come out and make their grievances known to enable the authorities or those concerned to address them instead of the continuous violence and killing of harmless and defenseless citizens. Mark said this when he played host to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Paulinus Nwagu, and traditional rulers from Ebonyi Central in his Otukpo country home of Benue State yesterday, that it was time for the rampaging sect to make their grievances public; otherwise, authorities would be in the dark on how to address the matter. According to him “Nigeria is going through difficult times. We have the challenge of fuel subsidy removal or otherwise. We have the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, problems in the health sector and the security challenges. The way forward is for all hands to be on deck to tackle these problems. This is not about government alone. It is about our country, Nigeria.”
I’m Sad, Says Atiku Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said he is deeply saddened by the bombings and other acts of violence on Christmas Day leading to the loss of many lives. Atiku, in a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday, warned that acts of violence could lead to retaliatory actions, where innocent souls would suffer. “It can also lead to the erosion of confidence in organised society and government setting the stage for anarchy. This is precisely the time when our support for the authorities needs to be at its strongest,” he said. The former Vice-President, while condemning “the callous and wanton destruction of lives in the spate of violence at Madalla, Gudaka, Damaturu, Maiduguri and Jos”, said there was no cause that could justify the snuffing out innocent lives.
Aregbesola Condemns Bombings Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday condemned the Christmas Day bombing in Madalla, Suleja, Niger State by Boko Haram, saying it was uncalled for. Aregbesola, who condemned this at the first annual conference of an Islamic group, the Nasrul-lahi-l- Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) in Osogbo, described the development as a very sad and irresponsible act which had no justification of any kind in Islam. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the governor as saying all genuine Muslims in the whole world must strongly condemn the dastardly act as ungodly in all its ramifications. He decried the ugly act which, he said, was against Islamic teachings or doctrine even as he denounced all the activities of the Boko Haram. Aregbesola said: “Time has come for Muslims, and indeed NASFAT, as one of the most educated and organised Islamic organisations, to urgently address the issue.”
CAN Tackles Boko Haram Sponsors President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has described the Christmas Day bombing in Niger State as a total loss to the nation. He also described the sponsors of Boko Haram as worse than animals and cowards. Speaking yesterday to journalists on his way to Abuja, at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Oritsejafor said the bombings was a big shame to the nation. He said: “The Boko Haram perpetrators and those sponsoring them are worse than animals, in fact they are not fit to be called human being.”
Kukah: Enough is Enough Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah, has described the Christmas day bomb blast which killed many citizens as unfortunate and appealed to Northern leaders to speak out on the security challenge bedevilling the country. He described as disturbing the activities of the Boko Haram sect, saying politicians were behind the ugly trend. Speaking during a chat with journalists in Sokoto on Monday, Kukah said: “The Christmas day bomb blast was indeed worrisome. I received several calls from my Muslim friends, who are prominent and in top positions in government and I told them that I am tired of this silence. Our silence make us more vulnerable and we need to stand together to condemn this because if we keep silent, gradually it is going to consume us all.”
Kaka Chides Bombers Former Ogun State deputy governor, Adegbenga Kaka , has flayed Boko Haram followers for carrying their actions too far with the bombing of Churches in some parts of the North. Kaka now a serving Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district in a chat with journalists, however, absolved Islam from the orgy of violence contending that Islam as a religion does not encourage violence under any guise. He said the current crisis in the North had no link to Islam since the religion does not support violence, lamenting that instead of addressing the socio-political problems that led to the violence in the North, many people keep on saying it is a religious crisis whereas Islam stands for peace.
Islamic Scholar Blames Leaders A renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman, has condemned the spate of bombings in the country, saying it is against the tenets of any religion worldwide. The Islamic scholar at his Bauchj residence yesterday expressed dismay with the bombing of a religious place such as the Church, stressing that even at war front, places of worship are untouchable. “Even at war front, leaders of the warring religion normally canvass for peace through dialogue but not through killings of innocent souls or burning of places of worship or property, which invariably means entering into bond,” he said. “It is unfortunate that our country Nigeria is now not on the right tract with both Muslims and Christians becoming guilty for one another each and every day without recourse to the rule of law,” he added.
CD Challenges Jonathan Also, Campaign for Democracy (CD), has expressed dismay over Christmas Day bombings in some parts of the North and charged President Goodluck Jonathan to rise up against the scourge of insecurity in the country. A statement by CD’s President, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of insensitivity in his reaction to the tragedy. “We are much more alarmed by the faux pas committed by President Jonathan who said to a nation looking up to him for assurance that bombing around us is a burden we must live with until it fizzles out,” the group said.
IYM: FG Should Check Boko Haram Reacting also, the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) urged the Federal Government to take a decisive step towards checkmating the activities of the Boko Haram sect or risk having the country disintegrate before 2015. IYM in a statement by its National President, Elliot Uko, said: “Now that the battle is on to destroy Nigeria’s unity, IYM suggests that we humbly apologise to those who warned us eleven years ago. The strategically, well-rehearsed reaction cum indictment from certain quarters, blaming leadership failure only heightens the fear for the continued survival of Nigeria. “Boko Haram has proven without doubt, that the revered traditional institutions, religious leadership and political elite have lost control of northern Nigeria. It is pathetic! The reasons for the collapse of authority in the north is quite obvious, the struggle for the total disintegration of Nigeria by Boko haram is succeeding. Tempers are high in the south and among the Christian community in the north,” the group said.
Group Wants Ceasefire Similarly, the Peace and Unity Media Advocacy, a non-governmental organisation has advised the Boko Haram to ceasefire and promote peaceful co-existence to avoid further bloodshed in the country. A statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Salihu Othman, and made available in Kano yesterday, said: “Their activities might blossom into a full nationwide insurgence of something is not done quickly.”
Already, the Niger Delta militants have began its attack on mosques in the region. You know, religious battles are the worst to engage in. So, clerics in the country should be up and doing in their responsibilities by counselling members of the sect on the need to sheathe their sword and embrace peace. “Islam frowns at shedding the blood of fellow Moslems, which is exactly what is happening which makes it complex to understand the message they are trying to pass across. However, President Goodluck Jonathan must not continue to fold his hands and pretend that all is well when Jos in Plateau state, as well as states like Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, and, now Kano are under siege and insecurity. He must act now.”
Christian Leaders to Parley on Security Situation Christian leaders will soon convene a meeting of all denominational leaders to review the security situation in the country and fashion an appropriate response to the menace of terrorism by the Islamic fundamentalist group known as Boko Haram. The meeting is coming on the heels of the outrage, which had trailed the acts violence in parts of the country, while Christians were Christmas. The meeting expected to hold soon would address current sectarian violence across the northern part of the country which has virtually driven all adherents of the Christian faith into hiding and left several northern cities deserted by Christians who have been under ceaseless attacks from the members of the Boko Haram.
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