News
Declare State Of Emergency In N’ East …As FG Rejects Call -Clark
A former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in view of the persistent terrorists’ attacks and insecurity in the states.
Clark, who is also an elder statesman, asked the President to remove the governors of affected states, saying their sacking would make the war on insurgency meaningful and easy.
Clark stated this in an open letter he addressed to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), which he read to journalists at his residence last Monday in Abuja.
He accused Governors Bindo Jibrilla (Adamawa), Kashim Shettima(Borno) and Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) of frustrating efforts of the Federal Government in nipping the war in the bud because of what he described as the governors’ selfishness and what they stand to gain.
He alleged that the Borno State governor takes the advantage of being the Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum by always travelling out of the state and abandoning his people.
The foremost Ijaw leader explained that the state of emergency in the three states was necessary in order to allow the military clear the remnants of the insurgents in them.
He appealed to Malami to prevail on President Buhari to act fast and mandate the military to end insurgency within six months.
The ex-minister said the abduction of 110 Dapchi school girls was a clear indication that the Boko Haram terrorists were still very active in the North-East and ready to cause more damage.
He stated that insecurity in the country and particularly in the North-East should not be seen as a normal phenomenon, adding that pragmatic military and political approaches were necessary to stem the tide.
Clark noted that it has become imperative to put in place a state of emergency with senior military officers as the sole administrators.
He said, “Buhari should declare a total state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. This will create conducive atmosphere for the military to clear the remnants of Boko Haram.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has dismissed calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in the North-East, explaining that the action would not be enough to win the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The Presidency made the explanation in response to the suggestion made by a former Federal Commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, among other stakeholders.
Clark had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the three north-eastern states to check the escalation of the insurgency in the area.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, who reacted to the calls in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said that a similar state of emergency in the past did not yield any positive result.
“Under President (Goodluck Jonathan), state of emergency was declared in those three states, what did it achieve?” he questioned, adding “that is already telling you that it goes beyond a state of emergency.”
While making the call, Clark had expressed optimism that declaring a state of emergency in the states would assist in curbing the activities of terrorists in the troubled North-East region.
He also condemned the abduction of 110 schoolgirls by the insurgents in Dapchi, Yobe State, and accused the state governor as well as those of Borno and Adamawa States of failing in their duties as chief security officers of their states.
But Adesina insisted that the Federal Government has a totally different approach to fighting the insurgency.
“What should happen is bringing a decisive and final end to the insurgency raving those states, and by the grace of God, we are almost there.”
The presidential aide, who announced earlier in a statement that President Buhari would be visiting some troubled states in the country, explained the rationale behind the visits.
“The President is going to those states to visit everyone; all stakeholders are going to be invited for meetings – traditional rulers, farmers, herdsmen, community leaders,” Adesina said.
He listed the states to include Rivers, Benue, Adamawa, Taraba and Jigawa.
Adesina denied claims that the visits were delayed for political reasons, noting that the President has decided to embark on the visits after studying the reports of the delegations he sent to the states.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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