Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State
By SaharaReporters, New York
Mr. Gaidam contended that the answer to the plague of sectarian terror in the three states does not lie merely in extending the emergency rule, but in providing the military with superior and advanced weaponry, communication gadgets and also high-level surveillance and reconnaissance equipment for their operations in the beleaguered areas.
The three states have been worst hit by deadly terror attacks launched by members of Boko Haram, an extremely militant Islamist sect that has declared war on Western or non-Islamic values and institutions. The group also targets Muslims presumed to have adopted Western ideas.
Mr. Gaidam’s criticism of the president’s policy was contained in a press statement released by the governor’s spokesman, Abdullahi Bego. In the statement, obtained by SaharaReporters, the governor accused the Federal Government of failing to make adequate financial commitment to the troops, adding that the state government was left to provide much of the funds for the troop’s activities against the terrorist elements operating in the state. He said that such financial commitment deprived his state of resources needed to meet its obligations to the people of Yobe State.
The governor’s statement laid out steps he felt the Jonathan administration should take to combat the scourge of sectarian violence. “One, that the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency provide security personnel on the ground in Yobe and other affected states with advanced weaponry and communications apparatus to enable them [to] track and hunt down all criminals and insurgents operating in the areas. Currently, as the Turaki Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee has highlighted, security agents on the ground do not have superior weaponry and advanced communications capabilities needed to counter and deal the insurgents the blow that every peace-loving and law-abiding citizen wants.
“Second, that the Federal Government should urgently review and upgrade the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the security agents on ground to be able to detect, prevent and bring to justice any criminals or insurgents bent on carrying out attacks or wreaking havoc on innocents.
“Third, that the Federal Government should as a matter of high priority deploy and maintain regular aerial surveillance and ground patrols along the major high ways in Yobe and other affected states to track and nip criminal activity in the bud. Currently, many of the attacks on innocent people in the northeast take place in broad day light on the high ways.”
Mr. Gaidam expressed displeasure with President Jonathan’s stance that victims of Boko Haram attacks would receive no compensation. He also regretted that the state’s finances were heavily committed to the detriment of the state government’s constitutional responsibility to its people.
Governor Gaidam observed that the logistical support the state government regularly provides to the security agents in the state had taken a heavy toll on the state’s finances and ability to meet all of its other obligations.
While Mr. Jonathan has ruled out the payment of any compensation to victims of Boko Haram attacks, the Yobe State Government believes that the Federal Government ought to make a Marshall Plan-like intervention, including the allocation of special funds for palliative empowerment and regeneration schemes. Mr. Gaidam argued that such a plan would bring significant benefits, including boosting the capacity of hard working, innocent citizens to carry on with their daily lives.
“Governor Gaidam believes that unless these measures are taken with the ‘fierce urgency of now’, an extension of emergency rule for another six months will simply amount to motion without movement,” the statement concluded.
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