Seven days into the emergency rule declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in the three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, for the military to smoke out Boko Haram and other insurgent groups, the governors of those states have said they would all complement the new order.
Following the precarious security challenges in some parts of the North, particularly the north- eastern part of the country, Jonathan had no option than to declare a State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. The Tuesday proclamation has thus far afforded the security agencies, particularly the military, to solely oversee, monitor and nip in the bud, the escalating killings and bombings by suspected members of Boko Haram Islamic sect.
Although Borno and Yobe are considered as strongholds of the Boko Haram group, the two states were on December 31, 2011 among other states that witnessed emergency rule in some of their local councils when President Jonathan ordered the military and other security agencies to, single-handed, tackle the rising cases of killings and bombings. But that localized emergency rule proclamation appeared an exercise in futility.
After the six months expiration of the emergency rule as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended, Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe states, alongside their other colleagues in the affected states, continued from where the military stopped in their unflinching efforts to tackle the crisis. Unfortunately, all efforts appeared jinxed by the horrendous activities of the insurgents.
President Jonathan who is seriously worried on the rising cases of deaths and destruction of public and private structures by the Boko Haram and occasionally by the Joint Task Force, had to address the nation on Tuesday evening where he announced the reasons that warranted a state of emergency in not only Borno and Yobe, but Adamawa state which also shares borders with Borno and Cameroon Republic.
Already, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa has thrown his weight behind the President, and urged the people of Adamawa to cooperate with the security agencies in the cause of discharging their responsibility in restoring peace to the affected states. Nyako, however, advised that residents of Jimeta and its environs should as well comply with the curfew imposed on the state capital and other places suspected to be havens of Boko Haram in the state.
This, according to him, is to allow a levelplaying ground for the Task Force to act, in line with the 'Rule of Engagement' to rid the state of insurgency and criminal activities. In the same vein, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has expressed supports for the declaration.
Gaidam's "support and cooperation with the Federal Government and military" were contained in a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information, Abdullahi Bego, and made available to newsmen in Damaturu. Gaidam in the statement said, "I agree with the President on the imposition of state of emergency in Yobe State, as there is no alternative to peace and security to people's lives and property."
He said there was the need to take more effective measures in addressing the problems of insecurity in the country, as the Boko Haram insurgency claimed many lives and properties in the last four years. The statement further read: "This administration and its citizens have expressed regrets that over the past few years, the problems of insecurity and criminality in the state and other states of the North have led to many deaths and injuries thereby causing untold hardship to millions of innocent people."
While calling "on the good people of the state to be law abiding and to go about their normal business", the statement also said, "The Yobe State Government will continue to partner with the military's Joint Task Force (JTF) and other security agents to ensure normalcy across the state."
The governor also assured the public that the state government would continue to work closely with the security agents and would ensure that conducts in the state reflect the spirit of the emergency declaration by the President and the rules of the engagement specified for that purpose.
"Over the past few years, the problems of insurgency and criminality in Yobe State and other parts of the north have led to many deaths and injuries and caused untold hardship to millions of innocent people. "The good people of this state should note, however that the proclamation of a state of emergency by Mr. President does not affect the political structure in the state.
This administration will remain focused and committed in the ongoing task of transforming the state through the provision of much-needed social services. We will continue to work closely with the security agents and will ensure that their conduct reflects the spirit of the emergency declaration by the President; and the rules of engagement specified for that purpose.
"I call on the people to go about their normal and legitimate businesses and to report any suspicious movements in their areas to security agents. The people also should not relent in praying to the Almighty God for the restoration of peace and security in the state and the country in general."
Gaidam stated. Just like his counterparts from Adamawa and Yobe states, Governor Shettima of Borno also solicited prayers from all and sundry for the restoration of peace to the state, even as he urged the people to support and cooperate with all the security agencies who are charged with the sole responsibility of tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, following the declaration of State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa by President Jonathan. Shettima made the call at a live broadcast to the people of the state He said, "In this trying moment, I urge everybody to fervently pray for the return of peace in our dear Borno State and in all other parts of Nigeria, to pave the way for rapid recovery and the socio-economic transformation that we so desperately seek to put in place as a government".
Shettima, while commending the President for exercising his constitutional powers in declaring a state of emergency following the spate of killings and destructions of properties, said, "It is the constitutional responsibility of the President to take such measures. It is also the duty of any responsible state government to support lawful efforts that would guarantee the security of lives and properties. It can never be the wish of any guarded democratic government to have the military directly involved in the affairs of any federating unit except for unfortunate and painful causes.
"As the military leaders have said in discourses, the armoury of the Nigerian soldiers is not meant to fight fellow Nigerians; the armoury is meant to protect fellow Nigerians.
"A human life is sacred, more so, the life of every good Nigerian, no matter whose it is; and we all have moral, spiritual and social obligations to preserve and respect the lives of one another as we would want ours to be so preserved and respected," the governor stated. He added, "Allah emphatically says in the Holy Quran that he has dignified every human being, He has placed high premium on the sacredness of human life and as His dignified creatures, we should obediently respect the lives of fellow creatures. Let us be our brothers' keeper."
Shettima added that Borno and some other states in the country, particularly in the North, were facing trying times, but he was optimistic that with Allah by their side and with the commitment of Mr. President and the security agencies, the country would soon overcome its security challenges.
He, however, warned that a period of emergency rule is that which comes with rules that are different from those that guide day-to-day living, and, therefore, urged all the people of the state to take personal steps as citizens, to avoid being caught by the strange rules.
"I have directed the state's Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture to work out public safety enlightenment programmes that should be regularly featured on the Borno State Television and Radio while I urge our partners and friends in other media organisations resident in the state to help in educating citizens on public conducts at this different time that we face together," He appealed.
Shettima also used the opportunity to urge the military "who are fellow Nigerians", to abide by the directive of Mr President, in operating under the rules of engagement so that innocent lives and their properties are jealously preserved and protected. Shettima also pledged that his administration shall remain focused in commitment to improving the welfare of all citizens through quality governance.
"I further seize this opportunity for the umpteenth time, to call on our brothers in the Jama'atuahlissSunnahlilDa'awatuwal Jihad to embrace dialogue so that we can solve this problem on the table through collective bargaining, offers and compromises. I am glad to note that the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution is still working round the clock as also emphasised by the President.
"I believe, like I have always said since 2011, that by the end of the day, dialogue will be the last and sustainable resort. Let us embrace the spirit of 'live and let's live.'
"May I also add at the risk of sounding repetitive, that the best way to fight crime is to provide jobs through integrated agriculture and other industrial growth. We are very conscious of the fact that there is mass poverty and unemployment and as you may have confirmed from our ongoing programmes across the State, we are creating jobs and we will continue to do". Shettima promised.
National Mirror