Jigawa State Governor, Dr. Sule Lamido, yesterday described the rising tension in the Northern part of the country as a ticking bomb, which must be addressed urgently if Nigeria must survive as a nation.
According to him, the tension was so palpable that many concerned northerners have opted to relocate from their homes until after the next general election.
He regretted that neither the president nor his opponent has reined in their supporters, who appear to be on the prowl while the north was on fire because of their selfish political interests.
Asked why he went to see Babangida instead of reporting to the Villa in Abuja, Lamido told newsmen that the Minna meeting was aimed at briefing the former leader, who had been away for sometime on the fast deteriorating security situation in the North East occasioned by incendiary claims by supporters of top politicians seeking to rule Nigeria and the failure by the leadership to curb worsening insurgency.
He said he hoped that by so doing, it would be possible to help mobilise all Nigerians of good conscience to work together to nip in the bud rising ethno religious tensions currently creating fear among Nigerians, particularly those in the Northern part of the country, and to create a sense of belonging, unity and peace.
Lamido maintained that despite his fac-off with President Goodluck Jonathan over his failure to honour the promises he made to the people of the state four years ago, he would not dump the party, which he helped to set up along with eight others, who are now referred to as the G9.
He said that rather than dump the party, he would continue to seek the best possible way to help it to solve the myriads of challenges facing Nigeria as a country.
No regret supporting Jonathan in 2011
Lamido stated also that he did not regret supporting Jonathan in 2011 even though the support had not attracted any meaningful dividends to the state.
He warned however that the neglect of his people must be urgently addressed if the same support must be extended to the president in the next presidential poll.
“My position must be made very clear. I am not asking for anything for myself because I have made it abundantly clear that I am not seeking any office as some of my colleagues have done but the promises made to Jigawa people must be fulfilled so as to give them a sense of belonging like others.
“What we are saying is that our own people, who toiled for the president through my intervention in 2011, must be given a fair share of the national cake for their support before we vote again.”
The position of Lamido on President Jonathan, which was aired live on Saturday from Dutse, the state capital, is said to have jolted the Presidency, which appears afraid to confront him so as not to worsen the already bad situation as the election approaches.
“This explains why the Presidency and die-hard supporters of Jonathan like Clark and Dokubo have been reluctant to join issues with the governor since he decided to take on the President last weekend,” a source close to the Villa said on Tuesday.
“What has happened is entirely unexpected and it will be sorted out amicably and we believe the governor will give his total support to President Jonathan and not Buhari as some people have rushed to claim,” the source added.
It was learnt that the Presidency was however planning a peace deal with Lamido to enable him to give maximum support to Jonathan in the February 14 presidential poll. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Lamido you are a liar, Buhari's CPC won in 2011 presidential election against PDP. The election records are clear and available for anyone who cares.You do not deserve what you are asking for. You have long been known as opposition to GEJ. You and your state like before cannot stop GEJ. You could not stop him in 2011, and you cannot stop him now. We know you are secretly working against GEJ, you did so during 2011 even after entering agreement with him before PDP leadership. You turned around an supported Buhari, and you are still doing so now. Stop deceiving yourself, you are still in PDP because of your sons corruption charges, you are afraid of prosecution of your children if you leave PDP. You want to remain within to be able to continue manipulate to protect your corrupt children and wives. If not you would have like other five long gone to APC. It is on record all you dissident governors who oppose GEJ from north did not allow him to win in your states. PDP lost to CPC in all those states.We understand and not surprised about your pranks.
ReplyDeleteLets assume Lamido is a liar like you said. How come the South West were given the same treatment, even though we voted en-mass for GEJ in 2011 despite the fact that most people here were more Pro ACN?
DeleteI know you will say its Tinubu and ACN people who are not allowing us to get the benefit of the FG. Nonsense talk.
Is the FG not supposed to cater for all regardless of political affiliation of the states? Yet GEJ chose to ignore the SW which swung the votes in his favor in 2011. Shebi he don carry him shoeless leg waka come back now, make he come see how we go vote am again.
Let Obanikoro and Fayose keep deceiving him o. We shall see.
Let me just tell you the truth, we in the South West will not vote for GEJ wayo again o!!!