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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi (28320 Views)
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Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by gratiaeo(m): 6:38am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Professor Ango Abdullahi, Secretary, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has described the bickering in the governing All Progressives Congress, APC., particularly the battle of wit at the National Assembly, as unnecessary distraction for the government. He said Nigerians’ expectation from the Muhammadu Buhari government was so high that the APC and the APC needed not dissipate energy on inanities. Prof. Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, former special adviser on food security to President Olusegun Obasanjo and member, Board of Trustees, BoT, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, also tasked Buhari on the country’s security situation, even as he advocated the need for government to revive the abandoned dredging of River Niger and also revisit the exploration of petroleum in the North. Excerpts: How do you see the approach of Buhari’s government towards tackling the security situation of the country, especially the Boko Haram insurgency? I must take you back a little bit and say that from the platform of the Northern Elders Forum, we have submitted a comprehensive document to the former president, Jonathan Goodluck, in May, 2012. We looked at the various issues that were challenging the country at that particular point in time. Boko Haram was the major national issue and we made several recommendations from the security aspect, political aspect, socio-economic aspect, etc. It was very comprehensive and we went personally to present it to the then president. Our team was led by Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusufu Maitama Sule. Jonathan’s government was not taking the correct approach with regard to tackling the issue of Boko Haram, particularly to bring it to an end. There were indications that Boko Haram insurgency was being used as a political tool towards, perhaps, a pre-determined goal for winning election for Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. We specifically said that the approach was wrong. But we reminded the government at that time that yes, when the government was facing militancy in the Niger Delta, it was quite violent, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in good faith decided, in addition to the stick approach, also employed the current approach, meaning that for government to understand the genesis and causes of militancy, there must be some dialogue between government and the militants and which has socio-economic and political dimensions. From this dialogue, a position was fixed whereby the militants laid down their arms in return, and some concessions were made to them, including issues of employment, security and so on. So, we reminded the then president in 2012, that why shouldn’t he look at the possibility of dialogue? I must say here that this was the basis of which a dialogue was started. We also said at that time that while force was desirable in certain situation, it cannot be used in a way that rather than people coming to help, people will move back away from the effort of the government, meaning that if you are fighting an enemy you don’t tell him no. You must use credible intelligence and this credible intelligence can only come about through the cooperation of the people, particularly people from within the areas where this insurgency is taking place. The Joint Task Force (JTF) was there as an occupation force rather than a force that would create confidence in the people for their proper protection. To JTF, it appears that every person from Borno or outside was an enemy or potential Boko Haram. At the slightest excuse, one could be killed according to report we read from Amnesty International. We told Jonathan’s government that this was the best way to deal with the situation. He started the dialogue but we were aware that he was put under pressure by some extremists, who believed that the government of Nigeria should not discuss with Islamists because they were trying to Islamise the country and, therefore, he should not engage them in any form of discussions. So, we understand from where that pressure came and the president succumbed to their pressure and abandoned the dialogue, and in its stead, he came up with a state of emergency. So, we saw enormous violence with impunity being meted out to ordinary people in the name of tackling Boko Haram. Again, sometimes, we read in the newspapers, where some political commentators said Boko Haram was created by northerners because they lost power and they wanted to make the country ungovernable, etc. Of course, this could not stand to reason because the insurgency did not exclude the Muslims. Mosques were attacked. Muslims had been killed in large numbers. I could not see a militancy that wanted to Islamise Nigeria but engaged in killing Muslims. So, you could also argue that if the North didn’t want Jonathan to win elections, he could not because the North has the voting power to deny him victory in any election. But these commentators failed to see all these. But they continued to use it as a weapon towards 2015 election. Finally, of course, they lost. Buhari is now in charge as president. Obviously, from his post-campaign speeches, he had said that he would deal with Boko Haram and put an end to it. The question to ask is whether his approach is the basis of his confidence or whether it is a tactics or both. It appears to me that it is both, because he has directed that the military command structure against insurgency be relocated to Maiduguri. That is a tactical approach. And there is also a socio-political approach, particularly bringing our neighbouring countries – Cameron, Chad and Niger Republic – to really address the problem seriously by Joint Task Force to keep the common boundaries safe and ensure that the insurgents are followed wherever they are. I think his approach is correct using both military and political. These should be so. In addition, there must be contact and dialogue with various insurgent groups, because we don’t believe that Boko Haram insurgency is one uniform group with different chapters. Buhari’s approach is likely to make a difference and obviously international communities that saw Jonathan playing politics with the issue of Boko Haram withdraw their support. Certainly, we are seeing a change of mind now. Recently, there was a pledge by Canada, USA, UK, France, European countries to assist Buhari in the fight. There have been comments regarding dredging of River Niger, which Jonathan administration abandoned in 2010; what is the stand of Northern Elders Forum on this? Perhaps, it will be premature for me as person to, on behalf of the Northern Elders Forum, discuss objectively what Buhari should or should not do with regard to dredging of River Niger. There is no question in any one’s mind that these rivers are international waterways, and they do not belong to Nigeria alone. They belong to all countries that are entering into the ocean and make an extension of the ocean. Therefore, technically, realistically or economically, it will make a lot of economic sense for the River Niger to be dredged as far as possible within Nigerian territory or even beyond with stream tributaries of River Benue to Cameroon up to Niger. It certainly would make freight of goods much easier and cheaper. Of course, to have a River Niger dredged is much of economic significance to the North in particular, so that ocean link could go to Makurdi to Bussa and Yawari. It was based on politics that Jonathan terminated that project in favour of South-south. The idea, as usual, was to make the northern Nigeria dependent in terms of access to the sea and shipping. Obviously, if you have a ship coming to Bussa or Lokojo, you can have ships to any part of the world from there. So, for us, we expect that any aspect that will improve the economy of Nigeria should be of great concern and I have no doubt that in a few weeks or month, when Mr. President has put his team in place, whoever is assigned to take charge of the transport ministry will take this matter seriously. Now, as the project is abandoned politically, the project should be re-started economically. Because of the politics, the Jonathan administration felt that this part of the country should be put at the disadvantage. But the new government should look at it because of its economic significance to Nigeria. This dredging should proceed fast and quick, so that a lot of things will open for Nigeria. What is your position on the issue of oil exploration in the North? I have always said it in the last 50 years that the North has petroleum potentials, and in subsequent years, it is clear that oil is in part of the North- Benue trough and Chad Basin. There is oil in Niger Republic in commercial quantity from the side of Katsina. Two things have contributed or negated our effort in fully exploiting the potential of oil in the North; there is carelessness on the part o f the northern leaders’ thinking that this is one country, therefore, exploration is cheaper and easier for on-shore and off-shore in the deep ocean and two, the oil companies also indicated that it is cheaper for them to exploit oil from on-shore-off-shore and they were allowed to do so purely for commercial reason. But if government too had insisted that they do another way – inland, perhaps this would have worked. However, we hope that given our experience in the last 40 to 50 years, where the North was only blackmailed, intimidated and threatened that we didn’t even know the country’s oil bases and we must always succumb to this blackmail in terms of political relationship, the governors and the Federal Government should have responsibility to ensure that the resources of this country are harnessed; not only oil but other minerals as well. In the North, we have tonnes of precious stones and minerals, ranging from gold and diamonds in large quantities, so we expect any government that likes the development of this country to really open all the potentials that exist in the different parts and make sure that these potentials are exploited and resources are harnessed for the betterment of Nigeria. It is not a contentious matter that there is oil in Northern Nigeria, especially in our boarder areas. 4 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by gratiaeo(m): 6:40am On Jul 06, 2015 |
As an outstanding Professor of Agronomy, how will you assess the government’s plans to uplift agriculture as an alternative to oil revenue? Let me start by saying that agriculture is not an alternative. Agriculture is the main sustainable means of the Nigerian economy; oil is just a complementary or supplementary to agriculture. Even now, 45 per cent of the GDP of this country is contributed by agriculture, and all other sectors industry, commerce, etc. share the remaining 55 per cent. Agriculture also is the major employer of labour, accounting for about 60 to 65 per cent of the country’s foreign earnings. It also provides food security for the country. Agriculture should be reviewed to play a major role as a foreign exchange earner. Before the discovery of oil boom in 1970s, agriculture contributed up 80 per cent of the foreign exchange earning of this country while oil and commence took the remaining. Agriculture was relegated at the planning stage of government at the federal, state and local government levels, thinking that oil has come to replace agriculture. Oil can only remain as complementary and as component of the nation’s resources to solidify our economy. The earlier we uphold agriculture, the better for Nigeria. The new government is right in its thinking of addressing agricultural revival. We hope it is going to do so. All the advantages are there, all the elements that will make this possible are there and it is up to the government to plan and execute or implement it. We should be able to review agriculture in such a way that will not only secure our food security in the country but also serve as foreign exchange earner. It will also form part of our industrial development in which without agricultural raw materials our industrialisation programme will suffer a setback. That is what our forefathers did. Our textile industries were established, just as cotton mills and groundnut were established. So, we have all the resource it takes for us to have well diversified industrial development in this country. Most countries around the world, particularly United States of America’s power industries was largely based on agricultural materials. Well, the biggest challenge, facing agriculture in Nigeria today is low productivity. If I may explain this briefly, to give one illustration, while you can get 12 tonnes of maize per hectare of land in US today, our farmers in Nigeria are getting one tonne per hectare because of the low technology. Buhari government appears to be facing crises of coordination. How do you see the prospect of the government vis-a-vis the power tussle in the National Assembly and high expectations by Nigerians? You are absolutely correct that Nigerian have voted for change and have high expectations of this new government. There is no doubt about it. Therefore, everything must be put in place by this government with the leaders that are in charge of the government to ensure that the aspirations and expectations of Nigerians are realised as soon as possible because, anything short of that is a clear and demonstrated effort of failure. Nigerians are very understanding. If you have a problem, they know, if you are doing your best, they know, if you are hiding things from them, they also know. So, I think it is correct that there are high expectations from people. That is the more reason this government should not be allowed to be distracted by petty quarrels either within the executive or within the legislative arms of government as we are already seeing now. The sooner they put a stop to these squabbles, the better for them. I will strongly advise that they must do everything possible to avoid dirty politics. I don’t see why with the kind of voting pattern we have seen in the country, we should be seeing these kinds of things at the National Assembly. It is totally uncalled for and it begins to show sign that we are not out of the woods. It only shows that we are moving out from one forest and jumping into another. What is your take on the call by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, whose leaders recently visited President Buhari and sought for an inclusion of Igbo in his government? I take Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a socio-cultural or political organisation that speaks for the Igbo, that seeks to protect the interest of the Igbo in the Nigerian federation. So, it is very clear what they are in that context. Northern Elders Forum is not different from Ohanaeze. Northern Elders Forums wants to speak for Nigeria where possible and speaks and ensures that northern Nigeria is not in any circumstance marginalised in terms of its interest, whether this interest is political, social or economic. So, I think if Ohanaeze is worried about being marginalised, as such they must have thought that the North would retaliate because there were deliberate actions under the Jonathan administration aimed at marginalising the North in appointments and opportunities in projects and virtually in everything you can think of. Now, Ohanaeze are worried that, perhaps, they will be paid back in their coins, but we (Northern Elders Forum) have always said that we are looking for leadership of someone from Northern extraction, not because we wanted to marginalise or cheat any person in Nigeria. As you know, the northern leadership of the country, from and before independence of Nigeria, has always been fair to everyone. They deny themselves and give to others. This attitude was started from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. A lot of concessions were given to Niger Delta because of oil up till recently. Niger Delta is getting not less than 13 per cent from derivation funds. There is Ministry of Niger Delta but there is no ministry for the arid zones. There was OMPADEC and NDDC, etc. In fact, one state in Niger Delta is getting ten times of what a state is getting in the North. You see, it is good that Buhari said he would be fair to all Nigerians. That is what northern leadership is all about – equity and justice. But what we are not going to accept is to see that the North is unfairly treated. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/grave-mistake-jonathan-made-in-war-against-boko-haram-prof-ango-abdullahi/ 2 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by flames007(m): 6:41am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Politics is a game.GEJ didn't master it while in office.he should know more now.nevertheless he's still my hero. yay....i made FTC.make i go give testimony 4 church. sutst:More luck bro! 14 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by sutst: 6:43am On Jul 06, 2015 |
ftc |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by seedgreen(m): 6:44am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Folowing |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by jane0000(f): 6:44am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Ko kamii. All I know is that God will punish boko Haram and their sponsors ![]() 25 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Nobody: 6:50am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Fuuccck u prof 56 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by IamSimi(m): 6:54am On Jul 06, 2015 |
. |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by absoluteSuccess: 6:55am On Jul 06, 2015 |
This post is just too long to support the title, wetin? 8 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Young03(m): 7:00am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Too long 4 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Nobody: 7:03am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Do you even think I'll read this long post when it's 6th and my oga has not paid yet 18 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Starships4u(m): 7:04am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Wha' bout BUHARI ![]() 23 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by kamair237(m): 7:06am On Jul 06, 2015 |
people running their mouth Since birth... shey it easy for fight insurgency....?? 8 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by donholy28(m): 7:12am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Prof ur a professor but u no just get sense 63 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Bashirfuntua(m): 7:14am On Jul 06, 2015 |
damn |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Nobody: 7:46am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Now PMB is here, he should do the needful.... And stop fighting with his APC cohorts over who gets what and what... Sharing Nigeria without achieving anything... No defense Minister and people are being bombed everyday... What has he achieved by moving the military base to North and selecting only northern appointment.. 42 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by slap1(m): 8:04am On Jul 06, 2015 |
I don't need to read all that stuff. The Northern Elders Forum helped in no small way to nurture the Boko Haram we have today. 47 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by lyntiffany(f): 8:10am On Jul 06, 2015 |
This man must be high on cow dung shiiiit. Imagine the gibberish he's uttering. 40 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by kay29000(m): 8:11am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Hmm! The only problem I think Jonathan made was to take boko haram for granted for too long. I don't totally agree with the professor that Jonathan should have given them amnesty in 2012, like amnesty was given to militants. There is a big difference between the two entities. Militants never really killed people, they just did kidnapping and threatening here and there. Boko Haram is a violent terrorist group that have blown up and killed thousands of Nigerians... No negotiating with an entity like that. 26 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by kheart(m): 8:23am On Jul 06, 2015 |
My Prof was so on point. |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by IsraeliAIRFORCE: 8:32am On Jul 06, 2015 |
This man typifies extreme bigot. What does he mean by " Now, Ohanaeze are worried that, perhaps, they will be paid back in their coins" This evil of a man even blamed the North for thinking that Nigeria will ever be one and secondly he blamed Jonathan in everything Bokoharam and when the issue of agriculture was raised, he also failed to acknowledge Jonathan's effort in that sector. This Ango of a man is Evil. 63 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by ERODEDEAST(f): 8:35am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Talk about the West Germini President not an ex. 16 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by dayo23(f): 8:38am On Jul 06, 2015 |
The funny thing is that many people here will not even read the content of the interview with the prof, they will just rush and post abusive words. I feel so sorry for Nigeria youth....all there education na zero even the old man they vote as president no get common SSCE. Confused Country with a confuse Ab0ki president! 9 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by OrlandoOwoh(m): 8:43am On Jul 06, 2015 |
It's a known fact that while Jonathan was the President, it's said that the north should continue to kill themselves as long as it didn't get to the south. Today everybody is suffering from that negligence. 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Nobody: 8:46am On Jul 06, 2015 |
lol.. spoken like d true nothern bigot he is...... lol.. How do you see the approach of Buhari’s government towards tackling the security situation of the country, especially the Boko Haram insurgency? simpl question and he bring oga jona enta...... 20 Likes |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Lordave: 9:02am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Mistakes or not, he remains the best we ever had. 41 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Fixed900: 9:02am On Jul 06, 2015 |
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Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by bluebay2(f): 9:02am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Ok |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by anonimi: 9:03am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Really ![]() Why would these guys try to re-write our history by telling demonic LIES? Why? www.nairaland.com/attachments/2187924_109594257360386431786094855946062713643445n1_jpeg55bd38bf3a3f99bb50f7d7b4bab1597b 31 Likes 6 Shares |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by StRichard(m): 9:04am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Everything oga jona..una no dey tire ![]() 7 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by Nobody: 9:04am On Jul 06, 2015 |
Hit the "Like" button if you didn't read all that long sermon cos I didn't! ![]() 23 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Grave Mistake Jonathan Made In War Against Boko Haram -prof Ango Abdullahi by solaugo1: 9:04am On Jul 06, 2015 |
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