1. We read with great concern reports attributed
to the Senate President David Mark
tending to blame the elders of the North for the perpetration and escalation of
violence in the region.
2.
We find it regrettable that David Mark, himself a northerner and occupying his
present office by the grace of the North should turn round to accuse the
region's elders of being behind the crisis.
3.
It is unfortunate that Mark, supposedly a public figure and people's
representative should publicly admit not being aware of the concerted efforts
by the Northern Elders Forum that has cut across religious and tribal
boundaries; the various meetings held by the Northern Governors Forum the
northern traditional rulers and various coalitions of religious leaders.
4.
It is discouraging for Mark to have publicly admitted or pretended not to know
that the northern elders he now accuses, have in their effort recently visited
and presented a comprehensive document advising President Jonathan on how to
handle the security situation.
5.
It is even embarrassing for Mark, who has not for once attempted to meet with
any of the elders, political leaders; religious or cultural leaders on how to
resolve the situation, to now find the courage to point accusing fingers
particularly at the elders.
6.
We hereby categorically challenge him to name those he claimed in his statement
to be behind the terror group and to tell the world the action Mark has ever
led the Senate to take towards arresting the security threat.
7.
Let Mark tell the world why his Senate deliberately ignored the various written
calls made to it for intervention by calling for a public hearing on the matter
particularly by youth groups.
8.
Rather than heeding those calls, Mark's Senate chose to pursue issues that
involve money.
9.
Let Mark tell the world if the northern elders have that power to restore peace
beyond offering advice and calling for caution which they have been doing
diligently though he pretends not to be aware of that.
10.
And let Mark explain why his Senate could not initiate the steps that led to
the present moves by the presidency towards changing the security arrangement
while the House of Representatives did summon the President and security
chiefs.
11.
Indeed it is disrespectful for a son of the region in his position who has
never visited any of the cities to console with victims of the violence to now
attempt to blame its persistence on his own elders.
12.
It is on record that Mark has never visited Maiduguri, Kano or Potiskum to
console with families of the thousands of people slaughtered in the course of
this violence but now finds the voice to criticise respected elders of the
North.
13.
More worrying is the part of Mark's statement that tended to suggest that
non-Muslims are the main target and primary victims of the attacks even after
the Muslim community which has openly distanced itself from the actions, also
happen to have recorded greater loss in terms of human and material casualty.
14.
Even more insensitive is the manner in which Mark closed his eyes to universal
fact that almost all those so far arrested in possession of explosives and
dangerous arms; those arrested with the actual bombing or attempts to blow up
the places of worship referred to by Mark, happen to be non-Muslims.
15.
More dangerously divisive is that Mark, rather than making statements expected
from leaders that could enhance religious harmony and understanding, chose to
single out a certain religious group for pacification.
16.
Finally, while we join other well-meaning Nigerians in condemning the violence
and its perpetrators, we welcome the recent bold moves by President Jonathan to
reposition the nation's security structure, we caution the presidency to beware
of the utterances of people like Mark who have clearly disconnected with the
situation on ground.
17.
We call on Mark to concentrate on cleaning the embarrassing scandals engulfing
the Senate and stop diverting the nation with unintelligent accusations.
18.
No diversionary tactic from Mark or anybody else can take the nation's
attention from the inadequacies of the Nigerian Senate with regards to
sensitive national issues.
19.
The nation knows that the Senate did not for instance take any action with
regards to the vexed issue of fuel subsidy and that it was the Reps that even
as much as showed concern.
20.
We are convinced that most Senators are only using the Senate as a refuge to
acquire immunity from investigations into their past commissions or omissions
while in various positions of power.
21.
Consequently we have resolved to launch an agitation for the scraping of the
Nigerian Senate from the nation's democratic structure as it only serves as a
gateway for huge financial wastage while not performing its constitutional
expectations.
SIGNED:
1.
NASTURA ASHIR SHERIFF for Arewa Youth Development Foundation
2.
SHETTIMA YERIMA for Arewa Youth Consultative Forum
