Governors To GEJ: Ignore Calls For State Of Emergency In Borno, Nasarawa, Others

Source: thewillnigeria.com
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SAN FRANCISCO, May 13, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has urged the Federal Government to ignore the ongoing agitation for a state of emergency in Borno, Nasarawa, Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, Yobe and other parts of the country following the violence and targeted killing of civilians and security personnel.


In a statement issued after a meeting on Monday in Abuja, the Governors said, “these requests are being made by people who do not wish our country well and who are bent on plunging the country into a deeper crisis. The Federal Government should not allow itself to be distracted from our collective goal of curbing the insurgency in some parts of our country once and for all.”


The full text of the statement by the Governors reads:


“ We in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) hereby condemn the recent violence and killings in some parts of our country – Borno, Nasarawa, Benue, Adamawa and some other states. We also commiserate with the people and government of those states, our security agencies and the families of the victims and pray God to give them and indeed every Nigerian the fortitude to bear the loss.


While urging security agencies to continue to do their jobs as professionally as possible, we appeal to all aggrieved individuals and groups in Nigeria to appreciate the fact that violence can never be a solution to any problem. We have no other country to call home and it is important that we understand the danger and futility of destroying our land in the pursuit of a selfish agenda.


It is gratifying that government – Federal and State – are working hard to get to the root of the killings and nip these orgy of violence in the bud. We are impressed by the magnanimity of the Federal Government, which has demonstrated an uncommon love for the country by setting up a Committee to explore the possibilities of granting amnesty to the members of the Boko Haram sect. It is also a good step that government has agreed to cooperate fully with the National Human Rights Commission in the investigation of the killings in Baga.


We also commend our security agencies for the selfless sacrifice they are making in the interest of us all to restore calm to all parts of our country.


We urge the Federal Government to continue to support affected states in the bid to check violence. The Federal Government should remain focused and continue to provide leadership until every part of Nigeria is rid of violence and insurgency.


We also call on the Federal Government to ignore the ongoing agitation for a state of emergency in some parts of the country.


These requests are being made by people who do not wish our country well and who are bent on plunging the country into a deeper crisis. The Federal Government should not allow itself to be distracted from our collective goal of curbing the insurgency in some parts of our country once and for all.


Signed:
Rt. Honourable Rotimi C. Amaechi
Executive Governor of Rivers State
Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum.”