OVER the past few months, governments across the country have been giving out cheques to victims of the political riots that followed the results of the 2011 presidential election.
It is instructive that nobody has been punished for the riots that swept many States, where political leaders had openly said they would cause trouble if certain candidates did not win.
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State at an event where victims received cheques said, “Let me take this opportunity to call on the political class in this country to exercise utmost caution and high sense of responsibility in all our actions and utterances before, during and after elections. Democracy goes beyond periodic elections and survival of our nation should be paramount in all that we do.”
The governor should have mentioned that mobs that caused the mayhem acted on some people’s behalf. They were equipped, they were fed, they were paid and most importantly, they were assured the law would not inconvenience them.
Have we not witnessed mayhem that descended on Nigeria after the 2011 election? Have we not seen how the crisis has continued with extensive bombing and daily killings in the North?
In the South, victims of political violence were also compensated. Their sponsors are strutting, boasting of future mayhem; they have no reason to re-think their destructive approach to politics. The high level of impunity we are seeing is related to not punishing the perpetrators of the 2011 post-election violence. Why is government paying for destruction they caused without punishing them? Is it acceptable to destroy Nigeria if one does not win an election? The duplicity in treating issues creates precedents that make sanctions unjust and unjustifiable.
Nigeria must protect itself. The responsibility lies with leaders, aspiring leaders and all who have risen to such prominence that the public take them serious. Their utterances mislead their followers and cause more troubles.
Every Nigerian has a right to contend for power within the law. Every Nigerian has rights to enter into legitimate alliances to access power; the constitutional provisions on freedom of association permit it. What we must avoid is being so consumed about leading Nigeria that we threaten to set the country on fire, if we cannot actualise the ambition.
Laws guide our country. Those who aspire to lead – and their supporters – must eschew threats in their ambitions. They should be telling Nigerians what qualifies them to lead the country and how their leadership would improve the lives of Nigerians.
They are better options to threatening more crises on a country that has been soaked in blood since 2010. Nigerians can also punish those who threaten their peace by not electing them.
Showing posts with label Babangida Aliyu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Babangida Aliyu. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Monday, 22 July 2013
We'll help bury PDP, if... say Northern Govs
By Wole Mosodami & Umar Yusuf
MINNA — The five Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors of Adamawa, Sokoto, Jigawa, Niger and Sokoto currently consulting with former heads of state with aims to save the party and polity have threatened to bury the party if their consultations end in failure.
At the end of the latest consultation, yesterday, the five governors were hailed by former president, General Ibrahim Babangida as real patriots, who have taken it upon themselves to address real threats to the polity.
Four of the five governors — Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano met with Babangida and another former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, during which they relayed their fears and apprehensions on the polity.
Nyako was the only one of the five northern governors, who commenced the consultations with the country’s elder-statesmen, that was absent at the consultation with Babangida and Abubakar. His absence, the other governors said, was due to a previously scheduled commitment with officials across the border in Cameroon.
Nyako, nevertheless, said yesterday that ongoing consultations by the governors were meant to help save the PDP from complete collapse, but in the event of their failure they would help bury the party.
The Adamawa State governor said he had given the nod for his supporters to decamp to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, though he said he would remain in the PDP.
We' ll continue to make our efforts to save the party
Justifying the consultations with Obasanjo and other elder-statesmen, Nyako, who spoke to Vanguard through his Director of Press and Publications, Sajoh Ahmed said:
“We have held consultations with former head of state and former BoT chairman of the PDP, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on the need for him and other major stakeholders to save the party from dying.
“We are not stopping with Obasanjo as one of the most respected Nigerians of our time; we will proceed to the likes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and other eminent Nigerians just to mention but a few.
“We will continue to make our efforts to save the party. But if our efforts do not work, we have no alternative than to fold our arms, and see PDP die and help in burying it.”
Current trend in PDP worrisome
According to the governor, unless serious minded Nigerians intervene in time, the PDP would die a natural death.
Nyako described the current trend of events in the ruling party as worrisome, adding that the squabbles within the ruling party pose threats to the survival of democracy in the country.
Nyako pledged that he would remain in the party, but that his supporters would move to the ANPP any moment from now.
Meeting with IBB, Abdulsalami
The meeting with Babangida and Abubakar which took place in the Presidential Lodge in Minna started at about 12.30 p.m lasted till 2.10 p.m.
[caption id="attachment_405350" align="alignnone" width="412"]
MEETING: From left: Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State; former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State; Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) after a meeting at the Presidential Lodge, Minna, Niger State, yesterday.[/caption]
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting with the two former military leaders, host governor, Dr. Aliyu, said they met to discuss some of the problems facing the party and the nation.
He said: “We are still consulting with our elders and our leaders at least to look at some of the problems and find solutions to the problems some of us perceive we are facing.”
These problems, according to him, include the deadlock in the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, and other political issues that have lately bedevilled the polity.
Asked what they came up with after the meeting, Aliyu said: “No, we are still consulting. It is an on-going consultation. You don’t resolve immediately and this is why we are still consulting.”
On Rivers State crisis
On the Rivers crisis, Aliyu said the issue was discussed with the two former heads of state and it was agreed that the issue should be taken up at an enlarged meeting of the Governors' Forum.
He said: “Obviously, we discussed Rivers State crisis. There is no issue discussed in Nigeria now that Rivers crisis will not come up but it is a larger issue for the Governors' Forum and we are discussing how to resolve things amicably.”
He explained that the absence of Governor Nyako was not deliberate, pointing out that he had an appointment with officials from Cameroun on electricity and that he stayed behind to discuss with the high-powered delegation from that country.
On where the train of consultation is moving to, Aliyu simply said: “Not yet decided. We will consult as a group to see where we are going to.”
The two former military leaders left the venue of the meeting immediately after the briefing while the four governors went back into the lodge to round up.
The three visiting governors subsequently drove out of the presidential lodge at about 3.15 p.m.
IBB describes the 5 govs as real patriots
General Babangida has, meanwhile, commended the steps being taken by the governors and some of their colleagues in resolving the ongoing crises in the country.
Speaking with journalists after consulting with the governors, yesterday, the former military president described the governors as “real patriots.”
Babangida said: “I just want to commend the governors and some of their colleagues. I am very impressed because they see the problems of this country as their problems and they have taken the right steps to make sure that they consult widely in trying to find solutions to some of the nagging problems. It shows they are real patriots and I am very happy with them.”
MINNA — The five Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors of Adamawa, Sokoto, Jigawa, Niger and Sokoto currently consulting with former heads of state with aims to save the party and polity have threatened to bury the party if their consultations end in failure.
At the end of the latest consultation, yesterday, the five governors were hailed by former president, General Ibrahim Babangida as real patriots, who have taken it upon themselves to address real threats to the polity.
Four of the five governors — Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano met with Babangida and another former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, during which they relayed their fears and apprehensions on the polity.
Nyako was the only one of the five northern governors, who commenced the consultations with the country’s elder-statesmen, that was absent at the consultation with Babangida and Abubakar. His absence, the other governors said, was due to a previously scheduled commitment with officials across the border in Cameroon.
Nyako, nevertheless, said yesterday that ongoing consultations by the governors were meant to help save the PDP from complete collapse, but in the event of their failure they would help bury the party.
The Adamawa State governor said he had given the nod for his supporters to decamp to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, though he said he would remain in the PDP.
We' ll continue to make our efforts to save the party
Justifying the consultations with Obasanjo and other elder-statesmen, Nyako, who spoke to Vanguard through his Director of Press and Publications, Sajoh Ahmed said:
“We have held consultations with former head of state and former BoT chairman of the PDP, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on the need for him and other major stakeholders to save the party from dying.
“We are not stopping with Obasanjo as one of the most respected Nigerians of our time; we will proceed to the likes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and other eminent Nigerians just to mention but a few.
“We will continue to make our efforts to save the party. But if our efforts do not work, we have no alternative than to fold our arms, and see PDP die and help in burying it.”
Current trend in PDP worrisome
According to the governor, unless serious minded Nigerians intervene in time, the PDP would die a natural death.
Nyako described the current trend of events in the ruling party as worrisome, adding that the squabbles within the ruling party pose threats to the survival of democracy in the country.
Nyako pledged that he would remain in the party, but that his supporters would move to the ANPP any moment from now.
Meeting with IBB, Abdulsalami
The meeting with Babangida and Abubakar which took place in the Presidential Lodge in Minna started at about 12.30 p.m lasted till 2.10 p.m.
[caption id="attachment_405350" align="alignnone" width="412"]
MEETING: From left: Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State; former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State; Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) after a meeting at the Presidential Lodge, Minna, Niger State, yesterday.[/caption]Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting with the two former military leaders, host governor, Dr. Aliyu, said they met to discuss some of the problems facing the party and the nation.
He said: “We are still consulting with our elders and our leaders at least to look at some of the problems and find solutions to the problems some of us perceive we are facing.”
These problems, according to him, include the deadlock in the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, and other political issues that have lately bedevilled the polity.
Asked what they came up with after the meeting, Aliyu said: “No, we are still consulting. It is an on-going consultation. You don’t resolve immediately and this is why we are still consulting.”
On Rivers State crisis
On the Rivers crisis, Aliyu said the issue was discussed with the two former heads of state and it was agreed that the issue should be taken up at an enlarged meeting of the Governors' Forum.
He said: “Obviously, we discussed Rivers State crisis. There is no issue discussed in Nigeria now that Rivers crisis will not come up but it is a larger issue for the Governors' Forum and we are discussing how to resolve things amicably.”
He explained that the absence of Governor Nyako was not deliberate, pointing out that he had an appointment with officials from Cameroun on electricity and that he stayed behind to discuss with the high-powered delegation from that country.
On where the train of consultation is moving to, Aliyu simply said: “Not yet decided. We will consult as a group to see where we are going to.”
The two former military leaders left the venue of the meeting immediately after the briefing while the four governors went back into the lodge to round up.
The three visiting governors subsequently drove out of the presidential lodge at about 3.15 p.m.
IBB describes the 5 govs as real patriots
General Babangida has, meanwhile, commended the steps being taken by the governors and some of their colleagues in resolving the ongoing crises in the country.
Speaking with journalists after consulting with the governors, yesterday, the former military president described the governors as “real patriots.”
Babangida said: “I just want to commend the governors and some of their colleagues. I am very impressed because they see the problems of this country as their problems and they have taken the right steps to make sure that they consult widely in trying to find solutions to some of the nagging problems. It shows they are real patriots and I am very happy with them.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)