Governor of Niger State and Chairman, Northern states Governors Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has expressed fears over possible international backing to the Boko Haram Islamist sect. He said there might be more to the issue of Boko Haram than meets the eye, especially the possibility of international dimension to the issue of the insurgence in parts of the northern region.
The governor’s position may have been against the backdrop of the alleged rejection of amnesty offer to the sect members by the Federal Government. The governor who stated this yesterday while declaring open the 24th forum of the Speakers of northern states House of Assembly said there was the need to explore other avenues, including the enactment of laws that will enable people to contribute to their communities to engender lasting peace , harmony and security in the country.
Absolving President Goodluck Jonathan of the current security situation in parts of the country, he argued that all governors have the capacity to tackle the security challenges in their respective states because they have been empowered by the constitution.
He commended the President for the bold step taken for the establishment of the amnesty committee on the Boko Haram and urged Nigerians to encourage and support him (the President) to succeed in the onerous effort aimed at finding lasting solution to the insecurity challenges bedeviling the nation. Aliyu postulated that the issue of security must be seen as a collective fight, and called on all Nigerians to be honest and sincere in the discussion of national issues.
Governor Aliyu told the legislators that as Nigerians of northern extraction, they should articulate and aggregate the need of their people which should form the basis of negotiation with the polity of Nigeria. He called on the legislature to concentrate on its constitutional duties of law making, appropriation, exposing corruption and inefficiency in the management of public funds and oversight functions while allowing the executives and judiciary to carry out their constitutional duties.
Earlier, the Acting chairman, Northern Speakers Forum, Hon. Aminu Musa Habib commended the governor for creating conducive atmosphere for harmonious and cordial working relationships among the three arms of government in the state. He noted that the forum was established with the sole aim of advancing their legislative views about the democratic governance in Nigeria with special attention to the interest of the North.