Tackle insurgency first, Borno elders tell Buhari
Borno Elders Forum yesterday urged the President–elect General Muhammadu Buhari to begin his work on assumption of office with the fight against insurgency.
The state is one of three states in the north east ravaged by six years of Boko Haram insurgency.
But Borno state is the worst hit with thousands of its citizens killed, nearly two million people, displaced, in and outside Nigeria, and its economy decimated.
Chairman of the forum, Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari in a statement in
Our Armed Forces, the Police and indeed all men and women in uniform need to be protected, motivated, well kitted
Maiduguri noted that Nigerians have been “terribly afflicted by insurgency and high level terrorism.”
“For us in Borno State and indeed the North East,” he said, “it is not an exaggeration to say that we have been taken back several years in terms of all indices of human development.
“We therefore urge Mr President to promptly eradicate all forms of insurgency and violence across the country.
“This should be the starting point. Nothing works without peace,” he stressed.
He added: “We need to be quickly rescued, rehabilitated, reconstructed, resettled and re-established.”
Ambassodor Galtimari reiterated the forum’s demand for a Marshall Plan for the North East.
Commenting on other priority areas, he said Gen Buhari needed to quickly address the diversification of sources of revenue generation in the country.
He said Buhari needed to pay serious attention to agriculture and solid minerals development and accelerate the exploration and exploitation of petroleum deposits, particularly in the Chad Basin and the Benue Trough.
The President elect, he suggested, had a great task of taking away from the streets the millions of our unemployed youths and create jobs on a daily basis.
He added that Nigerians desperately need Electric Power, Schools, Healthcare, Houses, Roads, Food, Water Supply and above all Security.
“Our Armed Forces, the Police and indeed all men and women in uniform need to be protected, motivated, well kitted and their needs of housing, equipment and so on adequately taken care-of.
“There is also the urgent need for mass recruitment into the Nigeria Police. The current number of police personnel are grossly inadequate.
“We need a strong and loyal Military and a well respected and trusted Police. This is the pride of every great nation.
All school-age children must be compelled to go to school, he suggested, adding that massive investment in education and vocational training should be given a priority.
The chairman noted that Nigeria in the last few years has been terribly polarised on sectional, religious and tribal lines.
“We thank the Al-Mighty Allah that Nigerians remained resolute in their desire for one indivisible, indissoluble and indestructible nation.
“Indeed, the spirit of Nigeria as our brothers’ keepers persisted at the level of the masses of our people.
“Now, Mr President Elect need to cash in on this spirit of Nigerianness demonstrated by the masses of Nigeria throughout the nation.
“It had come to Nigerians constantly relocating to their states of origins each time there are issues like elections, census, and so on. Nigerians live in the fear of the unknown even when they desired to live together in peace and harmony.
“The low turnout of voters during the just concluded elections was a clear indication of that fear.
He said the Presidentelect needed a great cabinet to achieve most of the promises made to Nigerians.
“We know General Buhari to be a straightforward, simple, honest, incorruptible and just leader.
“He has been our Governor in the then North East and also been our Head of State. From his antecedents we have no doubt about his ability and resolve to deliver effectively.
“Yet, he needs a cabinet of like minds, men and women who would think, dream, work and display transparency like Buhari.
“We pray for a smooth transition. We equally wish to appreciate the Statesmanship exhibited by President Goodluck Jonathan for not only conceeding defeat but also embracing the Presidentelect. He will certainly be listed among the World leaders who lived for peace.
“Nigerians have gotten the CHANGE they desperately needed. Knowing the calibre of the President elect and his running mate and their antecedents, we will certainly have a strong and purposeful leadership that formulate policies and programmes that will uplift not only Nigeria and Nigerians but by extension Africa and Africans.