political chieftain points at solutions to Boko Haram

By Henry Ibya

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and founding member of the party in Benue State Hon. Chief John Nombol has argued that Nigerian leaders particularly president Goodluck Jonathan should not pretend by making it sound as if there is no solution to the lingering crisis which has claimed thousands of innocent lives and also destroyed millions of property perpetrated by the Boko Haram a northern sect.

  

The PDP chieftain who is also a  retired war veteran stated this in a chat with some selected journalists in Abuja observed that Nigerian leaders should not see the emergence of the Boko Haram sect in the North as a new development different from what has happened in the past rather, he viewed Boko Haram as a Nigerian Language mostly spoken when political dialogue in terms of sharing the National cake fails which is also mostly understood by Nigerian leaders when such language is used.

 

The war veteran who went down memory lane recalled that after the annulment of the controversial June 12 presidential election widely acclaimed to have been won by late Moshood Abiola who was denied victory by the general Babangida led military government, the then government was not understanding the ordinary Yoruba language spoken by the Afenifere therefore, the Odua peoples congress (OPC) fashioned out this similar language being spoken by Boko Haram today, that a Yoruba Man should be allowed to rule the country even though Abiola was prevented for undisclosed reasons, the share of the Yoruba’s should not be allowed to pass them.

 

He noted that though it took time but the struggle materialized and the language was finally heard by the Gen. Abdulsalami government where Gen. Obasanjo (rtd) a Yoruba man was unanimously elected in 1999 to fill the share of the Yoruba people.

 

Nombol also recalled that, during the Obasanjo regime, the Niger Delta Militants of the south – south also pressed their demand for leadership through a similar language and the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan was selected from that region and giving the mantle of leadership adding that his election has settled the crisis in that region.

 

He is therefore, opposed to those with the school of thought that Boko Haram is not a political agitation.

 

Hon. Nombol who said at 65 years was no longer afraid of death expressed shock while the Ibo’s should celebrate the killings in the north that it is a revenge revealing that he overheard an Ibo man sometime saying that they were always killed by the Hausa’s in the North therefore now that their brother was president the Hausa’s should also be killed arguing that was not patriotic enough.

 

Chief Nombol also argued that a situation where those in leadership are messing up power and blaming the north was unacceptable advising that president Goodluck Jonathan should borrow a leaf from the late Yaradua who resolved the south – south crisis through peace and dialogue.

 

On 2015, Chief Nombol cautioned those using such campaign slogans including elder statesman Chief J.P. Clark that Jonathan must return to desist adding that only Nigerian’s can determine this and it could be determined by his work’s.

 

He regretted that elder statesmen such as Chief J.P Clark who should be playing advisory roles are rather playing politics on pages of papers therefore wondering who will tell president Jonathan the truth.

 

The businessman and politicians said the first republic brought a lot of benefits to Nigerians because of high lever peace that prevailed as well as Zero level corruption observed that those who are chosen to represent the people must embrace accountability and transparency and as well called on president Jonathan to resolve all issues cousing ripples in the PDP through dialogue.

 

He commended the Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and the central Bank governor Mallam Lamido Sanusi for their brilliance in managing the economy and advised that they should continue to fashion out policies that will improve the lives of the common people who are in majority.

 

He also called on Nigerians to continue to support them assist Mr. President deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians.