All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), the Presbyterian Church and many others yesterday said the country has witnessed too much bombings.
They said an end must be found soon.
The APC governors announced the establishment of a Trust Fund to support them.
Addressing reporters at the National Hospital, Abuja, the forum’s chairman, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, said the governors would join forces with other democrats to end the bad story as soon as possible.
His words: “We also out of our concern decided to establish a Trust Fund by the APC governors to support the families of the victims of this unholy act. And we shall also join forces with other democrats to ensure that this bad story ends as quickly as possible. Once more, we pray for the deceased and the families of those that lost their lives.”
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Adamawa State Governor Mutala Nyako, Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, Kwara State Governor Fatai Ahmed, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Ekiti State Governor Fayemi Kayode were part of Okorocha’s delegation.
Okorocha said the forum was at the hospital to commiserate with the victims at of the bomb blast.
He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to fish out the perpetrators of the incident.
The governor also urged the President to guarantee lives and property.
He said the forum has observed that the shedding of blood in the country has become worrisome.
The governor said that: “We notice that the shedding of blood in our nation is becoming worrisome, and as leaders we believe that this is not the time to say what is wrong or who is wrong.
“But this is the time that we must all close ranks to ensure the safety of lives and property. This is not the time to talk politics with people’s lives.
“This is not the time to talk politics with people’s lives. So, we appeal to all Nigerians irrespective of political party and religion to come together and unite to fight this evil of the moment, which has terrorise our nation.”
Al-Makura, urged all Nigerians to take security consciousness as part of their responsibility.
He advised that “security should not be left in the hands of security operatives alone.”
His words: “My advice to Nigerians is that we should be vigilant. We should not leave the issue of security in the hands of security operatives alone. Security should be everybody’s business. We should be more meticulous, we should be more careful, we should be more observant.”
The governor urged the citizenry to report suspicious persons and their activities to security operatives. Once we do that, we will be complementing the efforts of the security operatives in checkmating crimes such as this.”
The NSCIA called for a change of strategy in curtailing the insurgents.
The council said the military strategy had become obsolete for the problem at hand and it must be urgently changed.
It said it suspected that Nigerian may be engaging in a ‘war of attrition’ with criminals who may have undisclosed scores to settle with the country
The NSCIA made its position known in a statement by the Chairman of its Media Committee, Alhaji Femi Abbas.
The statement said: “For the umpteen times the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) is hereby lamenting and condemning the bomb blast that once again occurred in Nyanya, Abuja on Monday in which scores of innocent Nigerians were killed in cold blood.
For how long will these lamentations and condemnations continue in a country that is supposed to be guided by law is the capital question for now.
“We have a three-tier government to which the citizenry look for protection and necessary provision of social amenities. Yet, the feeling sense of security looks alien to an average Nigerian. Where is the place of loyalty and patriotism in this?
“Nigeria has consistently had a government in place for decades since independence (in civilian costume and military uniform) but there has never been any difference. Is this a matter of carelessness or one of complacency?
“We need to ask ourselves some fundamental and bitter questions. Where are we coming from and where are we going from here?
“Unless these questions are sincerely answered and the necessary decisions are taken at the appropriate time any hope of graduating from a country into a nation may end up in forlorn.”
The NSCIA queried why it had been difficult to tackle insurgency in Nigeria.
The statement added: “Today’s precarious experience is not peculiar to Nigeria. Some other countries have passed through similar experience in their history. The only seeming difference is that while others were very serious in tackling such a horrible situation, the required seriousness is conspicuously absent in our own case.
“We prefer to pass the buck even where buck passing serves no purpose. It is strange that in a country which claims to be civilized we are still applying an 18th century solution to a 21st century problem and yet expecting a deserving result.
“Treating the effect of an ailment while ignoring its cause, Nigeria seems to have been doing in the past three years is like scratching a monster on the head .
“While we do not necessarily need to repeat here that security is not about bayonets and tanks alone we are constrained to warn that with the current situation, Nigeria may have become engaged in a war of attrition with criminals who may have undisclosed scores to settle with the country.
“And such a situation will rather require strategy and wisdom than military might to be tackled. We have lost enough lives to those who do not value their own lives let alone those of others.
“There is enough evidence to show that the same strategy used in the past three years has become obsolete for the problem at hand and it must be urgently changed.
Condoling with victims of terrorism now and then can never proffer solution a seemingly inseparable problem like the one currently faced by Nigeria.
“Enough of losing lives of women, children and innocent Nigerians without any hope for a better option.
“As usual, we painfully condole with the families of the victims of this latest tragedy and all Nigerians who are directly or indirectly touched by the devastating effect of that tragedy believing that another one will not be allowed to occur soon.”
The Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Prof. Emele Mba Uka condemned the bomb blast .
The Prelate, in a statement by the church’s Director of Information and Public Affairs, Rev. Kalu U. Eme, lamented such heinous and barbaric massacre of innocent citizens and said that the perpetrators were not only inhuman, but also sick.
Most Rev. Prof. Uka called on security agents to effect tighter security controls in the country as it appeared that the orgy of terrorist attacks was spreading more rapidly and with impunity.
“Today, it has happened in Abuja. Who knows where else the terrorists will strike?”
The CNPP urged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to stop playing blame game politics with the heinous serial bomb explosion spreading in the country like wild fire by evil forces.
A statement by Mr Osita Okechukwu, spokesman of CNPP said “the inferno in our hands requires deep thinking, introspection and not the blame game; for if we are to play the blame game, the PDP led Federal Government has to explain what happened to the trillions of Naira voted for Security Equipment?
“If the blame game is the solution, then the PDP should refund the millions of dollars spent in the installation of Circuit Television (CCTV) in Abuja, for some Nigerians had warned then that the Chinese company, ZTE, is not the best equipped and that the contract was awarded in less than transparent manner.
“With effective and operative CCTV, it could have been easy either to prevent the disaster or track down the culprits to stop future mayhem.
“It is our considered view that the evil forces are deranged and mad people whose motive is opaque, as it is only a mad man that can haul bomb to the motor park. African proverb has it that one should not throw stone into the market, because it may hit your kindred.
“To us, the Nyanya Motor Park is neither PDP park nor APC park, or Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba park; therefore PDP should not trivialize a heinous crime. PDP is simply pedestrian.”
The CNPP challenged PDP to provide evidence to support its claim within seven days, “otherwise we shall head to court.”
Wives of northern governors condemned the Nyanya, Abuja bus terminus bombing in which 75 persons were killed.
They said they are “saddened” by the development.
They urged the Federal Government to “strengthen the security architecture of the nation and also seek the help of other countries to end the problem of insurgency in the country”.
The Northern Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) met at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
In attendance were the forum’s chairperson, Dooshima Yemisi Suswam (Benue), Hajiya Adama Dankwambo (Gombe), Hajiya Jummai Aliyu (Niger), Hajiya Asmau Yari Abubakar (Zamfara) and Hajiya Halima Wada (Kogi), among others.
In a communiqué by Mrs. Suswam, the northern governors’ wives condoled with the families of the blast’s victims and prayed for speedy recovery of those who were wounded.
The forum asked Nigerians to be vigilant, security conscious and to report suspicious persons or activities to security agents.
It appealed to politicians to “cooperate with one another for the good of the country regardless of their differences for the peace and progress of Nigeria.”
Mrs. Suswam said: “The Nigeria Immigration Service should step up its game to check the influx of foreigners and goods into the country.
“Mothers must keep watch of their children and wards.
“Politicians should empower the youth in skills or trade so that they will not be used as tools for violence and criminal activities.”
The northern governors’ wives appreciated the “exemplary conduct” of the British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock and other Nigerians who donated blood for those affected in the blast.
A group which campaigned for President Goodluck Jonathan in the last general elections, Neighbour to Neighbour, yesterday donated relief materials to the Nyanya bomb blast victims.
Its Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Charles Nwadiagwu who led the team to the Nyanya and Asokoro General hospitals, said the organisation was moved by the blast.
Items donated include rice, bottled water and toiletries.
Speaking during the presentation of the gift items to the Medical Director, Nyanya General Hospital, Dr Frank Idegwu, Nwadiagu said: “If we care for our neighbour, there will be a better Nigeria. We feel that what happened on Monday can happen to any of us as Nigerians. We therefore feel that it is important for us as Nigerians to rally round these ones that need care at times like this.”
A lawmaker representing Ibadan North II State Constituency in Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Olaleye Olusegun, said PDP spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh, comment on the blast depicts “cowardice, unpatriotic, malicious and highly demonic on the part of the ruling party”.
He said:
“I hereby urge the PDP scribe and PDP government to put aside all sentiments of all kinds and mobilise Nigerians to unite in the face of insurgencies; and stop playing politics with blood of innocent Nigerians.”
