Odunsi Odunsi Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has received a seven-day ultimatum to apologize to President Muhammadu Buhari a...
Odunsi Odunsi
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has received a
seven-day ultimatum to apologize to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian
military over a series of false accusations levelled against troops on the
frontlines.
The North East Peace Assembly (NEPA) said failure to do so
means he would be compelled to tell the world about his secret pact with Boko
Haram and its sponsors.
This was contained in a statement signed by the group’s
leader, Mallam Musa Babangida, on Saturday, following an investigative report
which rubbished the governor’s latest allegation claiming troops’ involvement
in agricultural activities in the northeast.
In the statement titled, “Gov. Zulum; reclaim your honour by
tendering an unreserved apology to Nigerian Army for consistent defamation of
character”, the North East Peace Assembly demanded that Zulum do the needful to
redeem his already battered image.
It said the governor is fast “carving a niche for himself as
an astute fabricator/inventor of sensational fake news” and Nigerians now
perceive him as “one of the many covert forces promoting Boko Haram terrorism
in Nigeria”.
“The North East Peace Assembly (NEPA) wishes to animate the
conscience of Borno state Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum to claim his honour and
dignity for unswervingly portraying himself as a leader who regales in peddling
blatant lies on the Army. He must do it within seven days of this publication
and upon failure, Nigerians should compel him to tell the rest of the world,
the secret pact he has signed with Boko Haram and its sponsors,” the statement
reads.
“This reminder and even outright request to Gov. Zulum is
prodded by the findings and release of the report of an Investigative Team set
up by the Army leadership to verify the authenticity of Zulum’s latest
allegations that soldiers in the war front have coercively seized farmlands and
fishing rivers from locals and converted same for personal farming and fishing
activities.
“For the records, let us remind the disco-ordinated Gov.
Zulum that the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai is
too professionalized and disciplined to engage in such acts of subversions and
maltreatment of the same people it has devoted years to exculpate from the
shackles of Boko Haram terrorism.
“Additionally, like the falsity of the seizure of farm and
fishing enclaves; Gov. Zulum’s hasty conclusions that soldiers were behind the
Boko Haram attack on his convoy near Baga is the most absurd, illogical or
ridiculous reasoning and conclusion by a leader of his status. Gov. Zulum is
fast carving a niche for himself as a purveyor of twisted facts and astute
fabricator/inventor of sensational fake news.
“Nigerian troops in the battlefield have never engaged in
any act of sabotage or complicity in the counter-insurgency operations;
inclusive of Zulum’s wretched farming and fishing allegations and the alleged
attack on his convoy by Boko Haram in
Borno state. For the umpteenth time, the Special Investigative Panel has
exonerated soldiers of any sabotage or complicity as bandied by Gov. Zulum or
others before him.”
Beyond mere apology, the group, however, asked the governor
to comply and support the fight against insurgency in Borno.
“We strongly believe this is the only alternative at the
disposal of Gov. Zulum now and he must bring his head down to comply in the
interest of peace. It is only then, Nigerians will know, he is truly committed
to the war against insurgency in Borno State.
“However, should Gov. Zulum be obstinate over this plea or
fails to tender the apology, it will show clearly that the Governor knows what
the rest of Nigerians don’t know about Boko Haram and definitely unhappy that
Nigerian troops are in Borno to defend the country.”
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