Hold Jonathan responsible for killings, insurgency: Oyegun

Hold Jonathan responsible for killings, insurgency: Oyegun

Wednesday, December 3, 2014 10:05 pm


MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in red cap with other party men

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in red cap with other party men

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Nigeria’s leading opposition party has insisted that Nigerians must hold President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s government responsible over killings, maiming of people and destruction of properties of in the northeast and other parts of the country.

This is coming few days after Nigerian government exonerated itself from sponsoring insurgency.

APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun noted in Kano, northwest Nigeria on Wednesday that the Federal Government has not displayed the political will to stop insurgency and other violent crimes in the country.

He was in Kano with other party officials to commiserate with the government and people Kano over last Friday’s bomb blasts at Kano central Mosque.

The party donated N5 million to the victims.

They visited the Emir’s Palace and the hospitals where they condoled with the victims.

Oyegun who spoke at the Kano Government House where Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje received them on behalf of his boss, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso who is out of Kano for official engagement, said: “We are in a situation where we have a government, we have security service which now seem to be totally either unwilling or impotent, both of which are equally bad, because they are not willing to control the situation or you are also powerless that you are unable to control the situation.

“The fear today is that we are gradually creeping towards anarchy. We are not talking of dane guns anymore. We are not even talking about pistols; we are now talking of automatic weapons in the hands of people all over; in every part of the nation.

“My personal fear is that one day we will wake up and we will find a nation that is totally ungovernable. My prayer is that this does not happen before February 15 when it will become clear that forces of progress—people who truly believe in Nigerian nation—people who truly believe that this country was put together by God for a purpose—the devil is diverting us today from that purpose. Bad leadership is diverting us from that purpose.

“A leadership that cannot summon the will nor the courage to take decisions are diverting us from that purpose. Nigeria has become a name that is despised, virtually despised world-wide.

“Even our own African brothers are beginning to virtually laugh at us because even they cannot understand that these people called insurgents can be allowed to roam so freely in the northeastern part of this country such that only a few days ago, they could drive into Damaturu, get to Government House, hold the whole state capital under siege before our military could get them under control at great cost in human lives—even to themselves.

“We did not have even the simplest iota of intelligence. We did not have people on the lookout in the outskirt of the town—it is really difficult to describe and you cannot but begin to believe that there is active connivance on those who ought to be protecting us, of the government that we put in place to protect this nation.

“So it is a situation that is difficult to understand, it is difficult to explain, it is a situation like I said that is getting rather close to anarchy with the attack on Yola and in Damaturu, we are getting near a state when even Maiduguri might cut-off. It might not be possible if we are not careful, we cannot drive to Maiduguri because other roads are already infested. The one that we all thought was saved is virtually also going the same way.

“So, we cannot but hold our government responsible because they have not displayed the will, they have not displayed the courage, they have not displayed the commitment that it takes to face the vicious enemies like Boko Haram.”

Expressing sympathy to the Kano people, he further stated that, “we convey our truly, truly sincere and heartfelt condolences to the people of Kano state for the very great bereavement which they have suffered and we will only pray for the souls that have been so viciously cut-short to rest in perfect peace.”

The APC boss also regretted that, “ordinary Nigerians are beginning to wonder, they are beginning to ask questions as to what is really going on—that people that are so well armed, people with sophisticated weapons; not just the bombs that any fool can throw, but sophisticated weaponry, and so unfeeling, so totally devoid of any human touch cannot only detonate bombs, but at the same time reign bullets on people who already running away for dear lives.

“It paints a picture of this nation that is difficult to understand, that is difficult to reconcile with, that we now have Nigerians in our midst for no justifiable reason, for ideological reason, for issue of saying we are an oppressed people, we are fighting for our freedom from we don’t know who—almost for nothing than waste human lives to the extent that we are beginning to experience.”

Ganduje who stood in for Kwankwaso regretted that the Federal Government has continued to underfund the Joint Task Force it created to fight the insurgents, adding that Kano state government been shouldering that responsibility.

According to Ganduje, security agencies and the state government work hand in hand to ensure security of lives and property of residents is guaranteed, “but we were taken unawares, we were beaten below the belt and we were surprised that the incident happened when it happened.”

He praised the APC delegation for showing concern, saying that they are the only political party that has come to condole the people and government of Kano over the incident which is a clear indication that APC is the only hope for the ordinary man.


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