Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Tuesday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, launched a humanitarian multi-stakeholder engagement roundtable as a prelude to the multi-billion naira Presidential Development Initiative for the North East (PINE), for the Boko Haram-ravaged region.
The two-day roundtable, with participants from the six states of the North East and international development partners, was put together by the Office of the Vice President and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Delivering his speech at the opening of the meeting, the VP said though the task of rebuilding the North East remained a daunting mission, the Federal Government remained very committed to amply investing in the effort so as to bring succour to a region that has suffered so much pain.
The development plan, according to officials of PINE, is to be implemented both on short-term and long-term basis and is expected to gulp N213 billion.
Osinbajo said: “Your being here underscores not just your empathy for victims of terror but it also demonstrates the outrage and anger that we all feel about the mindless killings, abductions and wanton destruction perpetrated by the sect.”
He said the northeast region had “suffered tremendously in the past six years – the destruction of infrastructure, farmlands, businesses and trades, and the destruction of schools and the loss of school years; rebuilding, restoration and rehabilitation will cost money and time, but neither money nor time can fix the trauma of loss of family, relations and friends.
“The shame of the raped, the scars and fears of parents of the abducted and kidnapped, the bewilderment that comes with loss of homes, possessions and livelihoods, the hundreds of thousands of orphaned children.”
He said he was impressed with the large turnout of participants at the two-day event, which he saw as an expression of their collective determination “to find the most cost effective and creative ways to intervene in restoring the dignity, family lives and livelihoods of the millions of IDPs in the North East.
“The tasks before us are many and profound – to fix brick and mortar and to mend hearts and minds damaged by senseless murderous violence – but we are called not just to mend the hearts and minds of the victims but also of their traducers and killers.”
The VP also observed that some of the perpetrators may also be victims of the circumstances they found themselves in.
“The young men and women who have been brainwashed to kill, maim and destroy in the warped belief that by so doing they please God, they are also victims. Indeed, these perpetrators are themselves victims, trapped in the vortex of evil manipulation, compelled to dehumanise themselves as they shed the blood of the innocent. It is our duty to deconstruct the narrative that causes men to kill children on their beds at a boarding school at night even as we degrade the military capacity of the terrorist insurgents. The tasks are indeed many and profound,” he said.
Professor Osinbanjo added that one of the goals of the initiative is to strengthen the capacities of existing civil society organisations (CSOs), especially in the region, and to aid the development of others where noticeable gaps exist.
“There is no question about the fact that if we are to succeed, we must invest in the CSO community,” the VP said, noting that “the CSO community is the heart and conscience of underserved people and communities.”
PINE chairman, General Theophilus Danjuma, who was represented by Alhaji Muhammed Danjuma, an official of PINE, said the federal government had earmarked N97 billion for short-term intervention for the region, while N116 billion would be spent on long-term intervention efforts expected to be completed in five years.
Gowon counsels military over December deadline
Former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Tuesday counseled the military over the propriety of the December deadline to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said that, from past experience, no one can be certain when such an insurgency would end, noting that there is also the possibility of ending the insurgency before the December 2015 deadline.
“I can tell you this; nobody can really talk about when any particular operation is going to end, and as a commander-in-chief, I am certain of this. Yes, you can say you target a particular time, but it may finish before that time or it may go slightly beyond. To end it, that to me is the most important thing,” Gowon explained.
In an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki shortly after an advocacy visit to the Ebonyi State Governor Chief Dave Umahi on Roll-back Malaria and four other neglected tropical diseases, Gowon said that with the present strategies adopted by the military in the fight, the insurgency group could soon be flushed out.
Gowon, who is also the team leader of advocacy group on Roll-back Malaria, lamented the use of young, innocent girls in the perpetration of suicide attacks by the terrorist group.
“The war against insurgency started during the administration of President Jonathan but the military, just before the election, did tremendous job against the group which made it possible for elections to be conducted in the North East. Since then, with the coming in of President Buhari, work is also being done until they decided to be sending poor little innocent girls to do some of the crimes they engage in. But I can assure you that the insurgency would soon end. I have the confidence that, very soon, with what they are doing at the moment, the group would be flushed out.”
Gowon advised the country not to rely solely on military solution to the Boko Haram insurgency, rather they should also engage in prayers, adding that with fervent prayers, the battle would be won.
Gowon said he was in the state to seek the support of the state government in the fight against malaria and four tropical diseases: elephanthiasis, river blindness, soil transmitted helminthes and bilharzia.
In a remark, Governor Umahi, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Bernard Odoh, said that sustainable development could not be achieved with such diseases ravaging the state and urged the group to decentralize the implementation of the advocacy process to enable the local governments benefit from the programme.
Prof Odoh said that such diseases could be linked to dirty environments and urged the people to cue into the environmental policy of the state which intends to achieve clean and conducive environment.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike denied the insinuation that there was a polio outbreak in the state, noting that from the results of the test received by the state government, there was no such case.
According to him, “We decided to embark on the immunisation of children within the area to ensure we check the spread – just in case – but from the result gotten, it was not a case of polio.”
US condemns recent Boko Haram attacks
The United States has condemned recent terror attacks in the Northeastern part of the country.
Spokesperson of the US Department of State John Kirby, in a statement, said the use of young people to commit suicide attacks is heinous and provides examples of the horrific measures Boko Haram terrorists are willing to take in terrorising residents in the region and the Lake Chad Basin area.
“The United States condemns the horrific and indiscriminate attacks at the Jambutu Mosque in Yola, Adamawa State, the Central Mosque of Polo Ward in Maiduguri, Borno State, and other locations in Maiduguri on October 23 and 24. We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the many innocent civilians who were killed and injured,” he said.
Kirby also said the US will continue to support the governments and people of Nigeria and the Lake Chad region in the fight against insurgency.
“We will continue to assist these vital efforts in every appropriate way,” Kirby said.
5 killed in suicide blast in Borno
On Saturday, five people were killed while several others were injured in a suicide attack at Dala Ajeri, Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
Officials of NEMA said the suicide bombers – four of them – made an attempt to enter the area but were intercepted by the civilian elements working alongside the military, the Civilian JTF.
Boko Haram: Army establishes task force brigade in Benishiek.
The Nigeria Army has established a new 29 Task Force Brigade in Beneshiek, Borno State ahead of the December deadline to end the Boko Haram terror attacks.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai said that the task force was strategically established to end the insurgency.
“This location is very important and strategic; it has great impact towards defeating the Boko Haram group. You are better trained and equipped than the criminals and you have to be professional and responsive.
“You should have no excuse not to be on patrol, ambush or raid operations,” he said.
Buratai urged the army to maintain the momentum and ensure insurgency is eradicated in the country.
“We have to maintain the momentum to achieve Mr President’s deadline. We must eradicate insurgency and make Nigeria peaceful. Be on the alert, observe routines, be disciplined and loyal to your officers,” he advised them.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, has launched the disbursement of the N2 billion accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as loans to citizens of the state.
-Leadership
