Northern States Governors at the weekend in K
expressed fears that the recent bloody clash b
the Army and members of the Shiite sect in Zaria
become another mistake for the Boko Haram cr
repeat itself.
At the meeting of the governors held at the
Hassan Usman Katsina House Kaduna, Chairman
Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Gove
Borno State, Kashim Shettima said although they
comparing the violent Boko Haram insurgents a
Islamic Movement, “but we are here to analy
ensure that we take measures that will close any
which some people may want to seize to create v
in the immediate or long run”.
His words: “let me start by making one thing ver
the Northern Governors ’ Forum is not here to do
of the Kaduna State Government or because t
anything missing in the measures taken by the
State Government.
“We are very confident in the Governor of Kaduna
Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, his competence and ch
have never come under any doubt. Soon after th
crisis, the Governor was at the scene and he spo
leader of the Islamic Movement and met the C
Army Staff. He addressed the people of Kaduna S
Thursday, December 17, 2015 and the Governme
some firm far reaching measures it considers nece
“Malam El-Rufai is the man on ground, he kno
subject matter more than us and he knows the st
deems most suitable after his extensive consult
So, we are not here to do his job. However, we a
in connection with what happened in Zaria, first b
the issue has to do with an Islamic group th
membership across the 19 states in the nort
beyond.
“We want to look how to ensure that the inciden
not provide room for anyone or group to per
violence in any of the 19 northern states. We
have the serious problems of Boko Haram to c
with. We are not in any way comparing the
Movement with Boko Haram, no. But we don’t w
same mistake that happened over the Boko Hara
to repeat itself. When Boko Haram went wild i
2009 with clashes between them and the po
Bauchi on 25th and 26th in Maiduguri, most Ni
saw the issues as the problems of Bauchi and Bor
“When they continued to attack Borno and Y
became the affairs of Borno and Yobe States. A
sudden, there was suicide attack in Abuja in 20
then everything went out of control and we are
are today. So, like I said, we do not mak
comparison between the murderously violent
Haram insurgents and the Islamic Movement but
here to analyze and ensure that we take measur
will close any avenue which some people may
seize to create violence in the immediate or long r
“Moreover, Kaduna is the socio-political heart
northern Nigeria. Kaduna is to us, what Lagos is
South West. What affects Kaduna State invariably
the whole north. If you notice, we make it a
travel to Kaduna to hold our meeting instead of
it in Abuja. Kaduna is the headquarters of the n
Nigeria but it will have that significance if we ac
the relevance it deserves. We have a duty to p
history and our values by coming here.
“We will compare thoughts analytically and exte
We will also be looking at any other matter that
the well being of the north and we shall brief the
on issues that we don’t consider too security se
to make public. We thank you in the media very
for being our partners in progress and we look f
to meeting you again when there is need to do
said.