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Kaduna massacre intentional, Gumi hits military
Kaduna massacre intentional, Gumi hits military
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a renowned Islamic Scholar in Kaduna State, has stated that the Sunday bombing of villagers in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area, is deliberate.
The scholar stated that it was wrong to target women and children, including the elderly, during wartime, but the military decided otherwise, believing they were terrorists’ families.
The scholar, who was delivering his weekly lecture at Kaduna’s Sultan Bello Mosque, questioned whether the first bomb dropped on the people was a mistake, as claimed, and what about the second bomb, which targeted those evacuating the bodies 30 minutes later, as claimed by the villagers.
According to him, God exposed some of the atrocities committed by the military in the forest, claiming that he had been warning people that innocent villagers were being targeted by security forces in the forest but that no one listened.
“I kept telling you not to invite people who see war as a solution,” he said, “but people refused to listen.” It’s finally here. War is never a laughing matter because it affects everyone. I warned you about this, but you still believe they should be killed.
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“It will be you who is killed. That bomb was intended to kill the children and wives of some people’s families. I visited a village in a remote forest where women and children were massacred.
“A large number of people have been bombed. Nobody said anything until they got closer to the city. I’ve been saying that whatever is between us, whether bandits or Boko Haram, should be resolved peacefully.
“Nobody can tell me anything in this country; I tried to solve the problem, but we were not supported.” The government was using a double standard, believing that they could win through war while also believing that they could win through negotiation.
“These people gathered in a location where women and children were, and the drones had cameras, so they saw the people but suspected they were children and wives of some people.” If they got the families of those people, I’m sure you’d all justify it.
“However, they inadvertently targeted people who were not their intended audience.” Nobody, in our opinion, should be the target of such bombings. This is because killing women and children, including the elderly, is wrong, and we do not support it, even if they are IPOB members.
“We will never condone the murder of IPOB wives and children.” Face-to-face combat is preferable to bombing people. After all, nobody is going to bomb IPOB. Did you hear anyone dropping bombs on those attacking Fulani settlements in Oyo?
“These bombs were designed to target certain people specifically, but God exposed them because He was not pleased with the deaths of innocent people.” We pray that the victims died as martyrs. But no one should ever tell me I made a mistake. No, it was done on purpose because the target was intended for someone else. Whoever planted the bomb should be brought to justice.
“The people claimed that the first bomb killed some people and that the second bomb was dropped 30 minutes later.” Should the second bomb be a mistake if the first bomb was a mistake?”
Kaduna massacre intentional, Gumi hits military
News
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Chairman of the Senate Services Sunday Karimi has hailed President Bola Tinubu for the decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He told reporters on Friday in Abuja that the President acted in the best interest of the State and Nigeria, having taken his decision in compliance with the Constitution.
“No President or government worth a name, will fold its arms and watch a political situation deteriorate to what we saw unfolding in Rivers State.
“We saw that bombing of pipelines had begun, and the security situation was getting worse with the tension everywhere”, Karimi stated.
Karimi, who represents Kogi-West on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled the “fatherly role” Tinubu had played in the crisis since 2023 in a bid to get the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reach an understanding, to no avail.
He explained: “We were all here in 2023 when Mr President called that truce meeting at the Aso Rock Villa. There was the eight-point agenda for settlement reached between the factions.
“When Nigerians expected that progress should be made to achieve peace, things started deteriorating considerably to a point where the governor demolished the House of Assembly building and administered the state with only three legislators.”
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Karimi observed that with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which gave the upper hand to the 27 lawmakers loyal to the camp of the FCT Minister, matters merely got worse in the State as the lawmakers were set to impeach the Governor.
“What did you expect would be the implications? There would have been more destruction, killings and economic losses for the country.
“With the bombings that had already started, it was a matter of time before the whole state would be engulfed in flames. No responsible President would sit, arms folded, and allow that to happen “ he added.
The senator further argued that it took “painstaking efforts” by the administration to raise daily crude oil production to around 1,800 barrels, noting that Nigeria’s economy was already “witnessing a rebound under the renewed hope projects of the government.”
“Allowing the situation in Rivers to get worse before he would act, wouldn’t have helped the state or Nigeria as a country in any way.
“Mr. President intervened at the right time, and his actions are covered by law,” he said.
Karimi also spoke on the emergency declaration in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and a couple of other states by former President Goodluck Jonathan without removing the Governors from office or suspending the state assemblies.
According to him, the case with those States was not generated by political crises but rather security concerns.
“So, I will advise those comparing the two scenarios to remember that one was purely about security threats resulting from the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, while that of Rivers is clearly political.
“It was the proper thing to do to suspend the political actors in the two factions to allow for tensions to diffuse. Nigerians should appreciate the President for the action he has taken so far,” he stated.
Sen. Karimi also noted that there was no cause for alarm as the National Assembly had indicated that the emergency rule could be reviewed as soon as there were signs that things could quickly normalise in Rivers State.
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
News
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The administrator was sworn in on Wednesday after a short meeting with the President.
Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly members.
The President said his decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking concrete action.
The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Bar Association.
However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.
Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
He is from Cross River State where he had his early education.
The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
News
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Tinubu made the declaration during a nationwide broadcast, saying it is for six months.
He announced the suspension of the Executive Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
He immediately named an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd), to take charge of the affairs of the state for the six-month period.
Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety. (Channels TV)
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