Ndume
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial district, Mohammed Ali Ndume has disclosed that plans are afoot to propose a bill seeking creation of Ministry of North East Affairs.
Speaking to National Assembly correspondents immediately after plenary, the senator noted that the only way federal government could effect immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation of people who were overwhelmed as a result of the Boko Haram carnage, is to create a full fledged Ministry and a Commission to be known as “North East Development Commission”, that could cater for the zone based on its peculiar circumstances.
He recalled that beyond Boko Haram menace, the zone had since 1999 being deliberately marginalised by the Peoples Democratic Party led government, which he said was due to the different political leanings of the zone.
“The North East part of Nigeria is the most marginalised in terms of infrastructural development in Nigeria”, he posited.
To achieve this feat, he called on the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari to allow a comprehensive blueprint developed so as to capture the entire 5 states that make up the north east zone.
He was optimistic that General Buhari’s understanding of the zone would give him hindsight to fast track development, while the efforts of lawmakers from the zone would complement by ensuring that necessary legal instruments were provided for smooth operations.
On assessment of military operations in the zone, he commended the Nigerian Military’s effort at bringing about sanity in the zone, noting that Boko Haram elements were determined to wipe everybody out if not for the intervention of the military.
He stated that all the villages outside Maiduguri, Borno State capital had been deserted, Boko Haram having captured women and children who were left behind.
He cautioned that nobody should go back to their villages yet, despite successes recorded by the troops until all access roads had been cleared of landmines.
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