…Says calling for resignation of COAS, CDS unnecessary
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The National Coordinator, Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, has cautioned politicians to resist by all means the temptation of playing politics with the bombing of innocent civilians erroneously at Tudun Biri village of Kaduna State last Sunday by a military drone, which killed over 100 persons.
Yakubu in this interview with Sunday Sun noted that the call by some Nigerians for the resignation of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) over the incident was not necessary.
However, the Arewa Think Tank Coordinator called for full investigations into the immediate and remote causes of the bloody incident, as well as making adequate compensation for the victims and the entire community.
He appreciated President Bola Tinubu, the military and all relevant authorities for showing empathy and concerns, as well as apologising over the unintended killings. Excerpts:
Just last Sunday, the military accidentally killed many civilians in place of terrorists in Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. What is your advice to the military authorities, which has since accepted responsibility for the killings?
You see, from your question, it is unfortunate about what had happened. It is unfortunate, it is painful and we sympathise with all the victims, both the dead and the injured. But one thing I want Nigerians to know is that those in the opposition should not seize this opportunity to demean our military and other security agencies. They should not seize this opportunity to ridicule our Army. From the top to the bottom, the president has shown empathy, and he categorically said that the incident will be strongly probed. And the military too have shown concerns and empathy, and anybody that is reasonable enough has shown empathy and concerns. I think it is a national tragedy that we all showed consideration. It shouldn’t be politicised. Some of the comments coming from some elders and groups do not show patriotism and concerns for the image of our country. This is not the time to play politics with this kind of incident. This is the time for the people of this country to stand together. In the last eight years we have not seen this kind of empathy and concerns or leadership when such thing had happened. So, we shouldn’t politicise please. Don’t forget that in the last eight years most of the Service Chiefs were Northerners, they didn’t show this kind of leadership, empathy and concerns. I am not saying what the military did is right. But they said it was a mistake. There is nowhere in the world where you have this kind of operations by the military or security agencies that you don’t have this kind of accident. But what matters is how you managed the accident, how you showed empathy, and how you showed concerns. And how you are prepared to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. This government, including the president to the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff, they all showed empathy and concerns when this thing happened. So, we shouldn’t over flog it, we shouldn’t politicise it to the advantage of some people. I am impressed with the kind of leadership and empathy and concerns the government has shown. The Vice President also visited. In the political history of this country since the Fourth Republic we have never seen leadership of this country showing so much empathy and concerns for victims of such incident. Though no amount of empathy and concerns will bring back the lives of those that have passed on. But as Nigerians we should appreciate the empathy and concerns and forthrightness that have been displayed by the leadership of the country, especially the Chief of Army Staff, the leadership of the Nigeria Army. They have been transparent enough. They have shown empathy and concerns and they have taken responsibility. We shouldn’t allow sentiments overshadow the success they have recorded so far. So let’s hold the government to its promises, and let’s give them the benefit of the doubt, let’s not politicise it, let’s not hide under it to make some uncomplimentary remarks. We should measure as leaders and responsible ones for that matter. It is my wish that the incident should be properly investigated and adequate compensation be paid to the victims, both the dead and the injured ones and the entire community. But those calling for the resignation of the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff, I think it’s uncalled for. Many of this thing had happened in the past, in the last eight years. How many people have called for the resignation of the Service Chiefs. And had President Muhammadu Buhari shown this kind of empathy and concerns and leadership that President Tinubu is showing since this thing happened. We should be careful about what we say because for us to live we need Nigeria. We don’t have any other country other than Nigeria. If we destroy the country, where are we going to. On behalf of Arewa Think Tank, I want to appreciate President Tinubu for rolling out the plans to build school, clinic, houses, roads, among other things in Tudun Biri. We are happy because those gullible Nigerians who want to take undue advantage of the situation for selfish interest have been blocked by President Tinubu’s good gesture to the community.
Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is dragging Nigerians to their graves because of socio-economic hardship in the country. How will you react to this?
This mass graves that Sule Lamido is talking about was dug during President Olusegun Obasanjo administration when Lamido himself was the Foreign Affairs Minister. It was since that time that they dug these graves. What I am saying is that, it was during Obasanjo’s regime that he made politicking and election a do-or-die affair. There was an election where he said it was a do-or-die, it was a war. Since that time Nigeria election had been distorted, election had become warfare. It had become a do-or-die affair. And it has been corrupting our elections, violence has been introduced into our election. So, if Lamido is saying that Tinubu should be prepared for mass burial of the masses, he, Lamido, should not forget that these graves were dug by Obasanjo administration which he was part and parcel of the government. If he is not judging them by what they have done, my advice and appeal to them is that they should allow Tinubu to run his own show, they should give him a breathing space, he is less than six months in office now, so they should allow him so that history will judge him too. Just like history is judging Obasanjo, Lamido and others now. Let me remind Lamido about what he did in 2023; one of his sons was contesting for governorship in Jigawa and another of his son was contesting for the Senatorship seat in Jigawa. That is why People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not win election in Jigawa State. So, he should not come and tell us now that Tinubu is sending us to our graves now. What Tinubu is doing now is that these graves that they have dug was not during his own time that they dug those graves. And I will continue to appeal to Nigerians to give this government the benefit of the doubt, at least one year to one and half years before we take him on. This is my take on this.
Long before the NNPCL Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari was reappointed by President Tinubu, the rumour mill went to work that Kyari was going to be replaced with a Yoruba man. How would you describe Tinubu’s decision by reappointing Kyari?
Let me take you back to history. I was the first Northerner that told Nigerians and Northerners in particular that nobody should accuse President Tinubu of nepotism because those before him did the same nepotism. He has seen that Mele is recognised, he has the experience and he merited the position. And that is why he allowed him to continue. If you look at it, all those who were appointed by Tinubu merited the position. He has been fair and just in all his appointments. I have said it over and over again that the most fairest appointments he has made so far is that of the Service Chiefs. Nobody should accuse President Tinubu of nepotism. He is doing his best and he has been fair enough to every part of the country.
Do you foresee President Tinubu probing the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari?
Why not, why can’t he probe him. Nobody is above the law. When Buhari came in, he probed Jonathan, so if President Tinubu is probing Buhari there is nothing wrong with it. If you have no skeleton in your cupboard there is no cause for alarm. There should be no sacred cow in the fight against corruption. Because this is one of the things that can affect this government negatively if they treat some people as being sacred heart and others as being corrupt. Now you heard what the National Security Adviser said that Tinubu inherited almost scrapped economy, and also the Finance Minister said it too. So, where do you want Tinubu to get money from? Some people stole this money. They stole this country blind. Tinubu should follow them and collect back our common patrimony. Nigerians are with Tinubu if he is ready to lead from the front.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the nation’s leaders have failed Nigerians. What can you make out of this accusation since he himself was the country’s leader?
I am happy that he is saying this, but I would like to remind him that each time he makes such statement he should include himself. He shouldn’t exclude himself. He was the one that led the country into what we are in now. It was during his tenure that violence was introduced into our election and it was corrupted. If you remember when Musa Yar’Adua was elected in 2007, he said the election that brought him to power was rigged, which was an indictment on Obasanjo. An elected president saying so. That was what led to Uwais Panel because that election was rigged. So, I think elder statesman like Obasanjo should be careful about what he says. Nigerians are not daft. We know our history, we know where the rain started beating us. It was during his tenure in 2003 when Nigeria election stated being messed up. You remember, it was during his tenure that money was brought to the table at the House of Representatives and the Senate. And nothing happened. So, he should be careful. We have not forgotten history. We knew what he did during his tenure. If he had lived honourable and creditably as a statesman, we wouldn’t have been where we are now. We were not calling on him to behave like Nelson Mandela of South Africa, we were not saying he should do only one term or two. What we were advising him at that time was that he should behave statesmanly like Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Mandela of South Africa behaved himself, he did not wipe out corruption, he did not build all the roads, but he showed leadership. After one tenure of office, he brought in a younger person to take over from him. One of the reasons Mandela is greatly respected across the globe is because of the spirit of forgiveness, mentorship and love. These are the three qualities we expected him to have displayed. He would have been Mandela’s successor by now. He did not do that. He introduced all manners of things. It was during Obasanjo’s regime that a governor was impeached in the middle of the night. How can he now come and tell us that Nigerian leaders have failed. Their failure started from him. If he had performed creditably all other leaders would have followed his footsteps. So he should be careful about what he says. If not he will lose relevance and lose statesmanship.
Some politicians have started talking about 2027 general elections when Nigerians have not even enjoyed any dividends of democracy under the current dispensation. Don’t you think it is too early to begin the politics of four years away?
That is the nature of human beings and the nature of Nigerian politics, immediately an election is concluded and all litigations concluded, politicians will start strategising for the next election. But I think we should start talking about the next election by the next two years. It is too early. However, Mr. President should beware of fifth columnists. They can sabotage him, they can destroy his government. So he should beware.