in Kano on the lowering of guard by Nigerians as a result of the improved security situation in the North.
SSS spokesperson Ms Marilyn Ogar, on Channels television yesterday said: “Maybe Nigerians became too relaxed because there was a little bit of respite.”
She claimed that operatives had taken out the leadership of the fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, and that some loose cannons, who are trying to “find their feet”, are staging these new attacks.
Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero said the strike was a calculated attempt to spark a civil war among peace loving ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Abia State Governor Theodore Orji suggested a return home to the Igbo living in the North to forestall further killings.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urged the government to tackle the security challenge headlong.
But President Goodluck Jonathan said the government would no longer tolerate “wanton destructions of lives and property”.
He expressed regret that “the destruction of valuable and critical infrastructure in recent times had depleted Kano, known for its huge commercial activities.
Dr. Jonathan’s message was delivered by a Federal Government delegation led by Minister of Interior Abba Moro, which visited the Emir of Kano.
In the team were Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar.
They also visited Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso .
Governor Orji urged the Igbo living in the North to return to the East, should their lives continue to be in danger.
Orji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Ben Onyechere, said: “In view of incessant massacre unreservedly perpetrated against the Igbo, it has become urgent and needful for Igbo in the North to take a decision that will forestall further killings, one of which is to come home because life is more precious than silver and gold.
“Nobody can restore one’s life that is lost, no matter the amount of money or property; so, it has become pertinent that since you are targets of unjustifiable attacks, you may have little or no option than to relocate, if necessary.
“I painfully send my heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost loved ones, just as much as I condole myself because I feel the pain as much as everyone else. A dead man has no enemy.
“In as much as the Federal Government is taking steps to put a stop to the murderous acts of insecurity, we as citizens and leaders have the onerous task of assisting in every way so that collectively we can find a solution to this precarious and condemnable situation which is certainly alien to this country.
“At this point, therefore, no one should consider the option of reprisal attacks because, just as the President has said, we are yet to identify the sources of these attacks which is the reason we must give unflinching support to our security agencies who are also incurring loss of lives on daily basis.”
The president of a foremost Igbo socio-political group, the C21, Senator Annie Okonkwo, described the suicide attack as senseless.
Okonkwo urged Nigerians to confront the challenge.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Collins Steve Ugwu, Okonkwo said: “If western education is sin’ as Boko Haram wants to force down our throats, does mass murder of dissenting Nigerians edify their brand of Islamic bigotry?”
He added that “speculative politics must be put aside to secure the supremacy of our corporate indivisible entity as a nation, because a nation that cannot stem this variant of extremism in peace time is a nation that has surrendered to anarchy without a fight. When routine murderous killings of innocent citizens of our country by Boko Haram is tolerated, the abiding faith of the people is severely weakened and their resolve as one entity fatally eroded.”
The Emir of Kano said that the sinister motive behind the bombing of a motor park in a predominantly Christian quarters in Kano was a calculated attempt to spark a civil war among peace loving ethnic groups in Nigeria.
The 19th Fulani emir of Kano told the visiting Federal Government delegation in his palace that there was no other reason behind this ungodly act rather than to create tension and cause chaos in the country.
The monarch said: “I feel saddened to hear everyday that somebody is being killed here or there, yet we can’t figure out what is happening, and who is behind this. I feel the Federal Government should do more to fish out the perpetrators of these heinous acts to free Nigeria and indeed our state from the festering mess.”
Alhaji Ado Bayero, who himself was a victim of the insurgent group, stressed that “something is missing in this whole cycle of violence, and feel that government should do more to fish out the real people behind the orgy of violence. Nigerians are living harmoniously both in Kano and, I believe, all over the federation, regardless of tribe and religion but all of a sudden we find ourselves in this. As a matter of fact, government should wake up and confront the challenge.”
The revered emir added: “In my fair assessment, Nigeria is in a serious situation. The killings everyday of citizenry will certainly not auger well with the nation and that is why I believe strongly that somebody is behind this, which demand that government must fish out whoever is behind it now’.
The Emir, however, expressed concern over the non implementation of position paper submitted to the Presidency by the Northern Elders some eight months ago despite the assurance to do so.
The Northern Elders Forum, through Alhaji Yusif Maitama Sule, had earlier complained to the emir over non implementation of a position paper the Forum submitted to the Presidency on effective way to resolve the crisis in the North.
The elders who had earlier visited emir included Justice Mustahpa Akanbi, Yahya Kwande, Sheik Lemu, Paul Unongo, Airmarshal Lamis Dagash, John Washfam, Sani Zangon Daura, General ABDUrAHAMN Dambazau and many others.
Moro told Governor Kwankwaso: “We are here as a delegation of the Federal Government at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan to commiserate with you, government and people of Kano State over the unfortunate bomb blast that shook the foundation of this state and claimed so many lives and property.
“I am to convey to you the heartfelt condolences of Mr. President and the people of Nigeria over this unfortunate incident and to say that Mr President is saddened by the fact that in spite of spirited and determined efforts by government to contend the security challenges, this conflict continues to rear its ugly head occasionally’.
The Minister also told Kwankwaso that the President ‘particularly has asked him to request that this singular incident should still be resolved by the Nigerian people to ensure that we mitigate the consequences of this crisis and take steps to stamp them out.
“He added that cases of wanton destruction of lives and properties, which took years to put in place would no longer be acceptable and called on “all of us, government at all tiers and levels, Nigerians and friends of Nigerians to accept the reality that security is a joint responsibility of everybody and that he would want to seek your support and assistance in ensuring that this violence is addressed.”
Kwankwaso expressed dismay over the tribal sentiment attached to the incident, saying that from the list of 25 victims at the hospitals, majority were natives.
Kwankwaso said both Christians and Muslims have been praying for the return of peace and unity in the state.
He said it is regrettable that Politicians in Abuja have started politicising the issue for cheap political goals, adding that it is a wrong thing to do.
“We are already collecting names of those who died in the attack and from what we see, they may comprise of mostly natives and people from this part of the country.”
