You can’t make this stuff up. Such gestures will not lead to goodwill, but only encourage Boko Haram to press for a complete surrender. An apology was but one of the jihadists’ conditions for a truce. They will carry on their slaughter until Nigerian authorities come to the table with the rest of the concessions. More on this story: “The grovelling governors,” from The Nation, July 7:
Ludging [sic] by the speed with which they are rushing to repent of their sins at the feet of the bloodthirsty Boko Haram, some former and serving northern governors must have gravely wronged the sect in the past. Yesterday, former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, took out an advertorial in newspapers to tender an abject apology over his role in the 2009 military crackdown on the sect.
Addressing the group by their formal name, he said: “I wish to publicly tender my apology to the Jama”atul Ahliss-Sunnah Ladda”awaiti Wal Jihad and any other group I might have offended in the course of discharging my duties as the Executive Governor of Borno State. It is human to err and divine to forgive.”
He didn’t get that aphorism from an Islamic text. One trusts he’ll apologize if the use of a non-Islamic saying caused offense.
For the ex-governor whose brother, Goni, and the then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in Borno State, Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio, were slain by the militants, apologising must seem like nothing.
Taking a cue, former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje, last week took time off his senatorial duties to pen his own craven apology to the sect.
Fresh from apologising for his flippant comments about the death of 10 National Youth Service Corps members in his state following post-election violence in April, Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, appears to have acquired a taste for humble pie.
His own plea for mercy was thorough. You would have thought such a quality apology would impress the militants. No way! Five days after Yuguda’s peace offering, gunmen suspected to be sect members, raided a police station in Toro town, Bauchi State, seizing all weapons they could lay hands on.
A few weeks ago, Boko Haram listed conditions for a truce. Aside the apologies, they wanted security agents implicated in the extra-judicial killing of their erstwhile leader, Mohammed Yusuf, to be tried. Two weeks ago, the government duly obliged. Now, the indicted policemen are facing “terrorism” charges.
Another outstanding issue is the resignation of current Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima. With his predecessor showing the way, no one should be shocked if the man patriotically throws in the towel. That would leave just one sticking point: the strict enforcement of Sharia in 12 northern states.
We are not sure where this sudden remorse over “injustices” meted out to Boko Haram members is coming from, but we can hazard a guess. It is either inspired by fear, or it exposes the fact that all the hot air about protecting lives and property emitted by these governors in the heat of the 2009 crisis was just that: hot air. They never had the courage of their convictions.
These apologies are powerful in their symbolism. It shows who is calling the shots in the showdown between the government and the sect.
While the governors are going on bended knees, and Aso Rock is pursuing its appeasement policy, a convenient amnesia has afflicted officialdom – so much so that there is no recollection of the crimes and human rights abuses carried out by Boko Haram members.
If there is any rememberance at all, we don’t hear anyone calling them to apologise for their sins – at least. After all, we have been assured they are untouchables who should not be prosecuted in the interest of peace.
Meanwhile, in beautiful downtown Maiduguri: “Boko Haram attacks soldiers, raid police station,” by Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi and Abiodun Joseph for The Nation, July 7:
Members of the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram have struck again in Bauchi. They sacked a police station in Toro, looted the armoury and freed a detainee — in what is seen as a daring retaliation for Tuesday”s Police raid on their hideout.
In Maiduguri, the group threw a bomb at soldiers who are members of the Joint Police/Army Task Force, enforcing security in the troubled city. Four soldiers were injured in the explosion that followed.
The explosion took place at the mini super market at Abbaganaram ward opposite the state low cost housing estate. The soldiers were on patrol when they came under attack….