Saturday 5 May 2012

"Only Northern leaders can end Boko Haram" - Traditional Ruler

The traditional ruler of Aghoro Kingdom in Ekeremor, Bayelsa State, Ibamughan Binarade, has said that terrorism inflicted on Nigerians by Boko Haram won’t end until northern leaders take a common position against the sect.

Binarade, who lamented the reckless killings, maiming and destruction of property by the sect, noted that the end to the menace lay in the hands of the Northern leaders.

He recalled that leaders in the South-East and South-South took a common position with the Federal Government to end kidnapping and militancy in their regions.

Binarade told our correspondent shortly after a thanksgiving ceremony organised in the community by the Aghoro Christian Fellowship, that Northern leaders should consider the unity of the country as superior to power.

He argued that Boko Haram became pronounced since President Goodluck Jonathan took over the leadership of the country.

He contended that the sect was faceless, but added that its promoters and backers were “dark political elements,” who felt dissatisfied with the way Jonathan emerged as the President.

He reminded the North that the country relied on oil and gas for its survival, noting that the economy would only be strengthened by unity.

Binarade said if the onslaught of Boko Haram continued unabated, other parts of the country would have no option but to call for true federalism.

He said, “The northerners need to realise that unity is more than power. They should understand the true nature of unity and work hand-in-hand to maintain the unity of this country.

“I know one day, our constitution will change and we will go for true federalism. They should realise that the economy of Nigeria is not plural. It is one and it is based on oil and gas.

“If we produce the bulk of the oil and we see one of us at the helms of affairs, one would have expected that great changes will come.

“They are fighting us because they want to control our resources. They have been ruling this country from the time of old and we have been remaining quiet. I wish they would one day go with their groundnut pyramid of old and allow us to control our resources and grow

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