Umbrella group of the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has advised against reported moves by the Nigerian Government to impose a state of emergency in five northern states as a way of solving the deteriorating insecurity in the said states.

Media reports yesterday had it that President Goodluck Jonathan, who cut short his southern Africa visit Thursday and hurried home to meet with the country’s service and police chiefs, was considering imposing a state of emergency on Borno, Yobe, Nassarawa, Benue and Plateau.

Reacting to the news, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Z. N. Sani, told News Express late yesterday:

“I do not believe state of emergency would be the panacea for the security challenges facing the nation. This is because it never addressed the ethno religious crises in Plateau State where it was applied for similar reasons. Also when state of emergency was applied in some local government areas in order to check the insecurity, it still did not deliver the needed peace.”
Sani “seriously” appealed to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) “and those opposed to amnesty and dialogue to please give the dialogue and amnesty a chance, considering that the use of force has failed in counter terrorism not only in other climes but also in Nigeria when President Yar’Adua used it in 2009. It has also failed to deliver the desired result in Bama.”

The ACF spokesman said that in the circumstances, “It is therefore unhelpful for some leaders to whom some people look up to continue to insist that amnesty is a waste of time and resources without giving the government and amnesty committee a chance. They should please give them a chance.”

News Express reports that while Boko Haram Islamic insurgents have held Borno and Yobe by the throat for some years now, Benue and Plateau have reeled from bloody ethnic clashes, with Nassarawa recently joining the league courtesy of the murderous adherents of Ombatse traditional religion.

•Photo: ACF Board of Trustees Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Jerry Useni.

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