The National Council of State (NCS) brainstormed yesterday on how to end terror attacks in the country before December.
Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu addressed reporters at the end of the meeting at the Aso Villa.
He was accompanied by Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.)
The meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, was attended by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Chief Enerst Shonekan, all former leaders.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari were not at the emergency meeting. Senate President David Mark was also absent.
Also in attendance were: former Chief Justices Muhammed Uwais and Alfa Belgore.
Other governors at the meeting included Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu).
Also present were: Seriake Dickso (Bayelsa), Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Willy Obiano (Anambra) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abubakar Yari (Zamfara), Ibrahim Shettima (Borno) and Adamawa State Acting Governor Umaru Fintri.
Aliyu said the council resolved that all hands must be on deck to end insurgency by December.
According to him, efforts will be made to ensure that the predictions that Nigeria will cease to exist as a united body by 2015 will remain a wishful thinking.
The governor said the council noted that leaders, particularly politicians, were the only threats to the country and its democracy. A committee to address the issue of indigenes was set up.
Aliyu said: “…You may recall that in some states, they even give contract appointment to some people who are not from their states.
“In some states, there are some discriminatory school fees. If you’re not a so-called indigene, you pay higher than the indigenes. In fact, the very concept of indigeneship came to the fore.
“Those are some of the issues that the committee will look into. But more fundamental is the issue of the buck stopping with the leadership. In fact, it came to the fore that if there is any threat to either the state or democracy, probably the threat is coming from politicians and from leaders of the country. We must understand the boundaries of leadership and the responsibilities that are involved. Leadership is not about beauty contest. In leadership, you must take difficult decisions and really go about implementing them.
“So, all the things came to the fore at the meeting. Subsequently, each of us made it a deliberate resolution to all bi-partisan or non-partisan to support the President to make sure that we get rid of insurgency, suggesting that it be done before December.”
Akpabio said the council resolved that all the moves in some states to register non-indigenes or their deportation should be stopped immediately.
The governor said the committee would identify discriminatory practices in some states in order to end to them.
He said: “Whether we need to go to the National Assembly or not, then we will go to National Assembly. Maybe we need to do so through policies at federal, state or local government levels, just to make sure that the country is totally united and all those discriminatory practices are brought to an end so that Nigerians can truly feel free and safe to work in any part of the country without hindrance.”
According to him, the committee comprises six governors, one from each of the the geo-political zones of the country.
Akpabio said: “We have the governors of Niger, Sokoto, Enugu, Gombe, Akwa Ibom and Ondo states. The governors were selected from each zone of the country to sit together, invite people to make contributions and then look at all practices in this country that we may term discriminatory.
“One of such was the idea of some people in some states complaining that they are unable to get certificate of occupancy to build mosques or churches.
“Another thing that looked very mundane, that because of the religion you belong, on your death, you are expected to be taken somewhere else to be buried because they don’t have cemetery provided for people of certain religions. Such things do not augur well for the country.”
Dasuki said: “Last week, there was a security council meeting and you were told, after that meeting, of our concern. This was what led to the Council of State being summoned. In particular, we were very troubled. This idea of registering people and the counter thing. There was a group that came out in the North and said that all Southerners should leave.
“And then, there were comments that followed that. Then, there was a statement issued by MASSOB that all Southerners should also leave the North.
“The danger, as we saw it, will only lead to when one misguided person will feel that all these things are too much for him, and he goes home. That is the beginning of the divisions of this country.
“Those of us who were around will remember very well that that was how the civil war started. We saw the danger. We said there is need for everybody to be sensitised on this.”
He added: “It looks very innocent now to say: ‘I have security concerns. I can register anybody who is not from here.’ But you don’t think that you have some people on the other side. What will you feel if they have the same concerns and decide to register everybody who is not from there? That is not the way the framers of the constitution envisaged that the constitution should be operated.
“That is why this meeting was held. I’m very happy that there was a lot of commitment. The governors, who are the main operators, who are the leaders at that level, are committed that this issue is resolved. There is a lot of commitment and support across party lines by those who attended.”
The NSA said the council discussed the attacks on General Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.
According to him, the government was not responsible for the attacks.
Dasuki said: “We said something about the attacks on Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi . There was a threat as far back as February, issued by Shekau (Boko Haram leader) calling them infidels by name and position. They said those eminent Nigerians were in trouble and they were going to see.
“Well, the government was not responsible. If you say that the government was responsible in the case of General Buhari, why don’t you say the same in the case of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi?”
