The Federal Government of Nigeria has made a move in expressing solidarity with victims of Boko Haram and other violent crimes disturbing economic, political and ethno-religious co-existence of the people of that country.
The move also drives in the direction of absolving the government from any sponsoring connection with the insurgents.
Speaking through his Vice, Namadi Sambo who led a Federal Government delegation to commiserate with the government of Kano state, Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11 and the good people of Kano state over last Friday’s deadly attack on the ancient city’s central Mosque located at the close to the Emir’s Palace, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed his condolence to everyone affected.
“I am here on behalf of His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the President of Federal Government, to extend his sincere condolence to you and the good people of Kano state over what happened during the terrorists attack on Friday in the Kano Mosque has come to us as another shock; but Insha Allah, these evil terrorists will be defeated. We will continue to do everything to work with the government and people of Kano state to ensure that we defeat these terrorists not only in Kano state but in Nigeria in general,” Sambo told the state governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, during the visit.
“Therefore, we are sending our sincere condolences also on behalf of all Nigerians; and may Allah grant those that lost their lives eternal rest. To those also that got wounded, we wish them to get well and already we are working with the officials of the state emergency agency and NEMA, I am pleased to inform you that already, approval has been granted to Director-General to give all the support that is necessary to all those that have
been affected. Already, I have been fully briefed that we have supplied a large quantity of blood from the blood bank in Kaduna and Katsina and various other arrangement to support your effort on the medication of those that are in the hospitals as well as other victims.”
Sambo seize the opportunity urge all Nigerians to show the spirit of sincere neighbourliness to everyone. He also urged them to be security conscious and to continue to cooperate with the security agencies in other to bring back peace, tranquility and development the country.
“Politics should not be part of this business; and I must also seize this opportunity to call on those that have been spreading mischievous rumours all over that it is the government that is involved,” Sambo added.
“I want to say it categorically clear that the government is not a party to this and the government is doing everything to arrest this terrorist act; the government is doing everything to ensure that we go back to peace and with this insinuation, I want to draw our attention to the fact that the security operators of this country is headed by Muslims. The National Security Adviser (NSA) of this country is a Muslim, Col. Sambo Dasuki, he is from Sokoto and he is from a Royal House. The Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau is from Zamfara state and he is a Muslim. The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba is Jigawa state and he is a Muslim. Myself as the Vice President, I am a Muslim from Kaduna state; I am from Zaria in Kaduna state.
“These high position people that are Muslims shows that with this responsibility by President Jonathan, the President cannot be a party to people that can perpetrate this heinous act against their Muslim brothers or even the Christian brothers. Only last Monday, we had a National Conference where the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of CAN were in attendance with all the Special Advisers to Governors in all the states of the Federation and the FCT—where we were discussing efforts being made for continued peace in this country. I want to thank the good people of Kano, the government of Kano state and Your Excellency for all of us to continue to cooperate and ensure that we defeat the menace of Boko Haram.”
In his response, Kwakwanso expressed appreciation for the solidarity gesture displayed by the government.
“I am happy we have been to the Mosque, you have seen what has happened on Friday; and we will continue to pray for those who lost their lives and for those who are in the hospitals, the state government will continue to settle their bills,” Kwakwanso said.
“Let me put it on record that members of security agencies in this state are working around the clock to save lives and properties and I am also happy to say that there is synergy between them because they are working as a family—not only between themselves, they are also working together with the state government, the Emirate Council and all other stakeholders.
“We will continue to work together to protect our people; and let me also appeal to the good people of Kano state to continue to partner with security agencies and the state government so that we can continue to defend or protect our people against all these unwanted attacks.”
He appealed to the Federal Government to continue to support the security agencies so that they can perform effectively.
“I am sure they will require arms and ammunitions; they will require kitting; they will require welfare — all these put together and the political will, by the grace of God we should be able to defeat the enemies, either insurgents, armed robbers and so on and so forth,” he added.
In his own speech, the Emir of Kano charged the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators and make sure they are punished at the end of the day. He called on the people desist from spreading dangerous rumours and urged them to always complement the efforts of security agencies in the state.
“Our belief is that a situation like Kano mosque attack requires thorough investigation, why it happened? Who are responsible? And how to protect future occurrence?” the Emir said.
He prayed for God’s help in comfprting the bereaved families while petitioning God too punish the perpetrators severely.
The delegation which also include the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali and other top government officials, also visited victims of the bomb attack in various hospitals.