In our last edition, we inadvertently used the picture of someone else instead of that of Professor Sotonye Amakiri. The error is regretted. We hereby reproduce the story with the correct picture.
Prof Sotonye F. Amakiri, former Provost of the Rivers State College of Education, now University of Education, Port Harcourt, has appealed to the emirs, elders and top politicians in the northern states of the country to intervene conspicuously and conscientiously to halt the current hazardous activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram (Western education is evil).
The Professor was reacting to the recent request to the President, Goodluck Jonathan, by the elders of Borno State through the aegis of the Borno Elders Forum, that the number of soldiers be reduced drastically from the streets of Maiduguri.
He said Boko Haram is an ill-wind that would blow no one any good.
Commenting on the request of the Borno Elders Forum which included an appeal to the members of Boko Haram to drop their guns, Professor Amakiri said the appeal was long overdue as the only panacea to achieve peace in the North and by extension, the entire Country,
“It is necessary for the stakeholders of the North who are also the fathers and mothers of the members of Boko Haram, to meet them, irrespective of where they may be operating from and solicit for their cooperation,” Professor Amakiri stated..
He affirmed that it was the same method that the concerned Elders of the South-South utilized to restore calm in the Niger Delta in the wake of militancy threat in the Country.
“We in the South-South suffered the same harassments and inconveniences they are complaining of now in Maiduguri. The Joint Military Task Force, JTF, was drafted into the streets and creeks of the Niger Delta, since the President would not fold his arms and let things go awry, when people take the laws into their hands.
“I was among the Elders who risked their lives to go into the creeks of the Nigerian coastline, from Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State, Delta State, bayelsa Ondo and Rivers States to plead with the militants to return to their homes and give peace a chance, sometimes deep in the night. In fact, there was a day we were even shot at in the Southern Ijaw area, not by the militants, but surprisingly by the JTF. However, our efforts yielded fruits at last and prepared the platform for further dialogues. We carried the message of the Chiefs and Elders to the militants in their camps and they did not harm us. The Elders of the North should do the same as it is the only panacea to return peace into the area. The perpetrators of these killings and destructions are their children. They would listen to them if they make a sincere move to dialogue with them,” he stated.
Prof. Amakiri said it is the responsibility of all to be law-abiding and provide a conducive atmosphere for tour President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to carry out his transformation agenda to its logical conclusion.
“No meaningful progress could be achieved in an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty. The recent destructive acts of Boko Haram have caused the presidency to increase the budget on security. Resources that would have otherwise been put into other developmental areas are now directed to ensure security. The President means well for the country and only needs our support and co-operation to execute his transformation agenda,” Prof. Amakiri concluded. ###
Kenneth Amabipi
