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Aftermatch of Gov. Shettima’s and Senator Garbai’s face-off
 
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Sat, 19 Mar 2016   ||   Nigeria,
 

They are friends and of the same Kanuri stock, and from the same senatorial zone, Borno Central. While one is currently the Borno State governor, the other was, until recently, a Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in his administration. However, following the death of Senator Ahmed Zanna of the Borno Central Senatorial Zone months earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the seat vacant and called for a bye-election. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) drafted his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Baba Kaka Garbai into the senatorial race.

The APC candidate defeated his opponent, Alhaji Kaka Bolori of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the election conducted about three months ago.

About three weeks ago, however, the two jolly fellows turned falcon and falconer as they took conflicting positions on insurgency and military operations in Borno State.

The point of divergence in opinion between the two jolted many, including the authorities and their respective supporters. The opposing views emanated from the devastating attacks on Dalori and Mairi villages (about six kilometres to Maiduguri) by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. The attacks left several people dead or wounded and several houses and property set ablaze.

The attacks no doubt shocked many, especially the people of Maiduguri and its environs who, until the attacks, were already savouring peace and managing to sleep with eyes closed. So deep was the concern of the Federal Government that it sent a delegation led by Secretary to the Government, Mr. David Lawan Bachair, to Dalori to commiserate with the people.

After visiting the scene of the disaster and seeing the extent of destruction to human life and property, Senator Garbai fumed that contrary to the widely-held view, only three of all the local government councils believed to have been liberated from the insurgents were free of the clutch of the Boko Haram sect. He pointed out that the local government councils free are Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Bayo and Kwaya Kursar.

Said Senator Garbai: “While Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge LGAs are under the control of the insurgents, 21 other local government areas of the state were partially occupied by Boko Haram.

“If you liberate Local Government Headquarters but adjoining communities are still under the control of insurgents like Konduga, you cannot say the area is safe. I think the military needs to intensify efforts to secure all the Local Government Areas that are either fully or partially occupied by the insurgents. Nobody is willing to stay in nearby villages any longer. Everyone is migrating to Maiduguri. People are afraid that very soon they might likely come under attack.”

He lamented the fact that hundreds of helpless civilians were fleeing their homes as the militants recently intensified attacks on villages close to Maiduguri.

However, in his response after visiting Dalori immediately on his arrival from an official trip overseas, Governor Kashim Shettima said: “The military deserves commendation, not condemnation. Believe you me, I’m the chief executive officer of the state; the military has recorded tremendous achievements in the past six months. We are now consolidating on the emerging peace in the state. It is wrong for anyone to say that the Boko Haram are in control. Yes, you might have pockets of them trying to foment mischief, but in the fullness of time we shall overcome even the hiccups.

“I read the senator’s comments in the media and I am trying to reach him to clarify some of the allegations on the issues. It is my considered opinion that the statement was either based on emotional outburst or he was misquoted. We are all living witnesses to what is happening in Borno. You and I know that in the past couple of months, Ngala was liberated by the military; so were Bama, Gwoza, Dikwa, Mafa and so many other communities that were hitherto under the terrorists’ control.

“The Boko Haram terrorists have been decimated and the president deserves special commendation. The people of the Northeast and especially those of Borno are eternally grateful to President Muhamadu Buhari for his commitment towards restoring sanity in the area”.

He added that the military was making efforts to rout the insurgents from their Sambisa Forest hideout, noting that the major problem area is the Sambisa Forest, even as the military was making efforts while the insurgents troop to the outskirts of Maiduguri to cause mayhem.

Though the public verbal disagreement between the governor and the senator on the status of the insurgency might appear unexpected based on the good rapport between the two, it should be remembered that Shettima spoke as a statesman while Senator Garbai behaved as a politician. They are both right, at least on individual perspectives.

However, the aftermath of the verbal face-off turned blessing for the people. The heat on the insurgency was re-energised as federal troops moved with vigour into the nook and cranny of the state, hunting down the insurgents and releasing captives. Visits to various military formations by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, and top military personnel have been intensified while more soldiers and equipment deployed. The rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction programme is experiencing daily boost. Public confidence in the military is gradually returning and people observing the positive moves from the military, federal and state governments are able to once more soundly.

 

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