Curfew in Bauchi, North East Nigeria Over Religious Clash afp20090727614002 Abuja Hot fm in English 26 Jul 09

A: One of the reasons is the recent results of WAEC and NECO. If you deny people education, you make them susceptible to ethnic, religious, and all types of nonsense. But if people are educated, you can’t pull wool over their eyes. They will see what is good for their country and insist on it.

Q: Nigeria is increasingly becoming a country of illiterate people. Are you positive that there could be a change?

A: I am positive. What is the rate of literacy in Kano? What is it in Bauchi? It depends on the elite. When the elite - the university community, the respected religious leaders and the business community-moved, didn’t they do it? They put the government they chose in place. Bauchi did it, Lagos did it.

Q: Let’s go into your person. Having been the Head of State, some other persons would just have withdrawn to their corners and retired peacefully. But here you are, still laboring to ensure that there is a change.

A: I said it on 31 December 1983 that we have no other country than Nigeria and we must stay and salvage it together. That is still my position. I have no other country than Nigeria, so I cannot just sit down while some fraudsters take over the country and bring it to ruins. Where do I go? Where do my children go? Don’t forget I told you that I come from a generation of crises. Professionally, from 15 January 1966 till today, I have been involved in all the crises in this country and you want me to go to Daura and sit down because I love myself so much? No. As long as I breathe, I am telling you, I will continue.

Q: Some of your colleagues in the military amassed so much wealth, but you chose to live a Spartan life. What pushed you in this direction?

A: I was brought up an orphan. I didn’t even know my father. I can’t conceptualize him. But I made a statement sometime in 1984 that the training of military leaders is the best form of training because it deals with lives. And lives have no spares.

Q: Some people said that as military head of state, your government would have achieved much if not for some of the mistakes it made, such as fighting many battles on several fronts at the same time. Do you agree with that evaluation?

A: On too many fronts? I am a trained military officer and I know a bit about Hitler. The major mistake he made was that he opened too many fronts and got his nation and the world into trouble. In the Nigerian context, I believe indiscipline and corruption will not allow this country to move forward. And when I came into power, I was absolutely clear on how we were going to go about it and we started. For example, I will give you four things that we did.

One, there were Nigerian workers who had not been paid for more than nine months in some of the states but their governors were going around with convoys, with praise singers and so on. Two, there was so much pressure from the IMF for us to devalue our currency. The federal government refused to do it, but got more loans from Saudi Arabia just to patch up. Then, there was the case of the debt that was being accumulated.

So, I took more than N630 million and paid Nigerian workers their salaries. Secondly, we told the world that we were not going to borrow one kobo from anybody. Thirdly, we said that we were going to service our medium and long term debts when due and fourthly, we were not going to devalue the naira. And in the 20 months, we did all that. We knew what we were doing. But if along the line, we had corrupt people who thought they were important and they recruited some of our colleagues and they did what they did to us, it is part of the historical development of the country.

Q: You said that they recruited some of your colleagues. That’s a very serious statement.

A: Of course.

Q: Would you want to expatiate on that?

A: You know it.

Q: With the benefit of hindsight, would you say there was any mistake you made?

A: Nobody is perfect. Even the then ministers we arrested were just put in the Kirikiri prison pending the completion of investigations and appearance before the tribunal. Because no religion and no culture, as far as I am concerned, says that you should go and kill innocent people. And what we did as I told you, was to charge people based on documentary evidence. We didn’t say: ‘Bola Ige, you were a governor. Ajasin, you were a governor. You are guilty; firing squad.’ We didn’t do that. Rawlings did it. But you go and find out why Rawlings did it. Initially, he didn’t want to kill them. But he discovered that he was about to be shot.

Q: If you find yourself in government again, how would you confront the problems of this country, which have now grown exponentially?

A: The first thing is how to raise a team? Secondly, from where do you start? In all honesty, how many people report to police stations now when they are hurt? They will just say ‘God dey’ and continue with their business. These are the fundamental issues. You hardly find police officers that are friendly to the people. Recently we had the problem of Boko Haram in Maiduguri. I am sure you know how it started. How did it start? One of their members died and in the funeral procession, there were some of them riding motorcycles without helmets.

But what the police did was to kill about three of them. If you don’t have helmet, is the right thing to do not just to arrest and charge them to court? Should they be killed for that? There are a lot of things wrong with this country.

Q: We want you to tell us specifically, like in the economic sector for instance, what your approach will be.

A: Our economic problems will be tackled in three different ways; where we were, where we are, and where are we heading to. We have to make a full appreciation of that. Luckily or unluckily for me, I have gone through all of it at least since 1966. But Nigeria has now become a mono-economy and everybody is now depending on petroleum because we have neglected agriculture. We no longer produce cocoa, coffee, beni seed, palm oil and so on. These are the things we built our infrastructure from.

But when oil came, we just dig for it, it gushes out, we sell it and of course, ordinary Nigerians don’t benefit much from the money realized from it. The money is stolen or invested outside or used to put some infrastructure in Lagos, Port Harcourt and some other states. The owners of the oil don’t get much and now that they can’t send their children to school, they can’t get drinking water, they can’t go to hospitals, the people are now saying after all this thing belongs to us.

But by our constitution, it belongs to all Nigerians and there is a law on how to divide it and how to use it to develop Nigeria and sustain it. That is the duty of the elite. We have to select a team that can do that effectively. In October 2001, there was a Council of State meeting. Obasanjo was there. I was there with Atiku, Gowon, Shonekan, IBB, Abdusalami Abubakar, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Professor Jerry Gana, and Liyel Imoke, who was in charge of NEPA then.

Obasanjo said that he wanted to increase the price of fuel. Rasheed Gbadamosi was the head of Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency, [PPPRA]. He was sent by Obasanjo to go round the country to soften the ground so that people can accept the increase in price. So, Obasanjo got up and addressed us. As usual, he knows everything. He is a professor of everything. He wouldn’t allow the rest of us to talk.

When it came to my turn, I said ‘please sir, just allow me.’ He said: ‘Muhammadu, what is it?’ He knew I was going to waste his time. I said that I was your commissioner for petroleum. He said yes. I asked him when we were going to carry out the Turn-Around-Maintenance on our refineries. He asked how we were going to do it. I told him that I knew. I said we’d put out our tender and ask people who have been developing our industry in the past to quote and the tender is opened.

The best will be given the job. I said that this was what we were doing in the past. He said, "Yes, Muhammadu." I said that when you came to power, you said that some people allowed the infrastructure, the refineries, the depots to virtually collapse because they gave the contracts to their wives and children. I said that for the two years you have been here now, who is giving the contracts? Why didn’t you get the refineries, the depots and the pipelines working? Who is doing it now? He shifted in his chair. Atiku said ‘Your Excellency, I am the Chairman of the Economic Committee and nobody had said it as Buhari said today.’

Of course, Obasanjo is too smart. He said that when Gbadamosi returned, we will consider what Muhammadu said and that was the end of it. And I stopped going to the Council of State meeting after that except when they discussed Bakassi, census, and the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. That is because I participated as a minister or ministry official in decisions of these particular issues and I didn’t want any wrong thing to be put in the record. I just abandoned the Council of State meeting.

Q: So, with all the money they have got, why can’t they repair the refineries? Why can’t they repair the pipelines? Why can’t they repair the depots?

A: We have the people, we have the resources, but it’s just because of corruption. You go and bring two ships, you lift 2000 barrels and they don’t care. The country can go to hell.

Q: But the same thing persists.

A: Of course. It is so convenient. They are just as corrupt as cesspit and they come and tell us rubbish every Wednesday. How long does it take to tar roads? They budgeted over N300 billion for roads, but where are the roads and where is the N300 billion? These people have sworn to ruin this country and they are very well on their way to doing it. We have to stop them in 2011.

Q: And you are determined to be at the forefront of this effort to effect a change in 2011?

A: Yes, I am already talking to Nigerians that are prepared to listen to me. Wherever I go, I say: send these people out if you want to have a country.

Q: While your integrity may not be in doubt, the belief is that the elite you are banking on to join you in salvaging Nigeria, are afraid of you. They believe that when you get there, you are not going to give them any breathing space. How do you now persuade them?

A: What you said is correct. But it is like giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. People talk about what I did when I was the head of state, even when I followed a decent way of doing it. Some people have said that if I had shot the corrupt people, the country would have even been better. But I said no. I fear God. I know I would die eventually and I am going to account for how I ran my house, the way I ran my platoon, to the division and to the country at large. I believe that. It is those who want to keep the people ignorant and illiterate so as to control their minds that are saying that. God knows all, of course and at the right time, he would intervene.

Q: You are popular among the ordinary people, but how do you convince the elite?

A: No matter what I say, they will not believe me. Even if I say I will not jail those who stole money, they will not believe me. But I didn’t shoot them. I just tried them and jailed them. Is it not better to jail than to shoot them?

Q: What memories of your late deputy, Tunde Idiagbon do you cherish most?

A: All Nigerians know that he was a capable person. He was loyal. He was capable and loyal. He was honest. Has his name been linked with any scandal? I was the one who built the 31 Brigade in Makurdi; subsequently, he went and commanded it. When I was the Governor of Borno State, he was there as well. He also served as Military Secretary and I also was there before him. Wherever I went, Tunde seemed to be following me and probably if God had left Tunde, maybe he would have also been head of state.

Q: As capable as the two of you were, how come you were caught unawares by what happened?

A: We were not caught unawares. We had the hint of what was coming. But just as I said, we didn’t want to do what Rawlings did.

Q: Even to the military elements?

A: Even to the military, we didn’t want to do that. We believe this country has a problem and we are to solve the problem. And again, I keep pointing to the elite. The elite knew about it, but they were made to believe that we were pushing them too hard. They forgot that there were some of them that were not paid for nine months. Nobody seemed to bother how they were running their families, how they were running their affairs and other things.

Nobody seemed to be concerned. But the people who were misappropriating their salaries were having parties every weekend and they were watching them. They allowed these corrupt people to recruit some of our colleagues to put us in jail and to bring back business as usual because all the physical assets we took away from people were given back to them. So, they institutionalized corruption.

Q: You knew the people who wanted to eject you from office and you left them to do it?

A: Yes, I was warned. I was warned by very senior Nigerians.

Q: But you never took any action?

A: No, I didn’t take any action, but I called them. I told them.

Q: You called them?

A: Yes, I told him. I told Babangida about it. He too told me.

Q: That he was not planning a coup against you?

A: He told me that people were saying that he would lead a revolt against me. I said if you want to come and sit on this chair, you can come. But let me tell you, I am not going to do anything and I’m not going to harm anybody without evidence. He gave me his assurances, but he went ahead.

Q: But it is unusual for a military head of state to have a hint of something like that and not act?

A: What I would like to say is that I have a conscience. Even when we overthrew Shagari, it was only two people we put in prison - Shagari himself and Ekwueme. We said that the others should be reporting to the police. But some smarter guys got Okada (commercial motor cycle) to Benin Republic and before we knew it, they were gone.

They didn’t even need their briefcases. And we saw that if we were not careful, all the people we accused of corruption would have left the country. And it is these same people that would be going around saying that we (the military) just scared us so that they could have the government and steal money. So, we had to keep the rest of them in custody until they were tried.

Q: You also tried to bring back those who fled, like Umaru Dikko, in a crate?

A: No, we didn’t try to bring him. Friends of Nigeria tried to crate him and bring him back.

Q: Would you consider your inability to move against the people that eventually drove you out of government an error of judgement on your part?

A: Yes, it was an error of judgment. We should have moved against them. We could have rounded them up and tried them because we had no intention of killing anybody.

Q: Are you still a member of the ANPP?

A: I will tell you what I did. Last December, I wrote to all the 37 chapters - the states and Federal Capital Territory-and gave them three options to choose from on how to move forward. One, we will remain in the ANPP, two, we should join any other party other than the PDP. The way I know I will certainly die is the same way I am certain that I will never join the PDP The third option is to float our own party. I have received the feedback.

I thought the PDP was going to make some mistakes at the special convention but it didn’t make it. But then, there are developments now that are causing people to behave as if we are in transition again. There are groups coming up and discussing with each other instead of parties trying to strategize and go for 2011 elections. Groups are now emerging from all parties because the parties are not operating according to their constitutions and INEC is not doing anything about it.

Q: You are getting old now. Do you see the possibility of the younger generation coming up to lead the country to a place of your dreams?

A: Yes. At every opportunity I tell them, because whichever way Nigeria takes, they have to lead it locally and nationally. So, it’s up to them to pull up their socks and be prepared to build up their communities and societies. If they don’t do it, they are going to suffer. Look at how people are dying in the desert and in the boats. A lot of them are Nigerians. Why can’t they remain here where they belong and get their country sorted out?

If you’re a physicist and you go to United States National Aeronautic and Space Agency or wherever, you’ll be given enough dollars for the exploitation of your talent, but you’ll still remain a black man and a Nigerian. And at the earliest opportunity, they will kick you out. So, why can’t you stay and do something in your country? If you don’t benefit from it, your son or grandson will.

Q: What is your opinion of elements like Nuhu Ribadu, el-Rufai and others, who sometimes show the kind of courage that you are known for?

A: Well, let them come and we will work together. They are welcome. I mean, having served Obasanjo and the way they served the man....

I am sure they will know that Obasanjo and I are different persons. The first thing is I will not allow anybody to sign 50 C of 0s, half of them belonging to his family and the rest for Obasanjo over a weekend in my own administration.

[Description of Source: Lagos TheNews in English - independent weekly news magazine]

Officials Report Killing of Nigerian Taliban Leader Mohammed Yusuf

AFP20090731519002 Doha Doha Al Jazeera English TV in English 0712 GMT 31 Jul 09

[For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.]

[Al Jazeera Announcer] Officials in Nigeria say the leader of a group accused of setting off days of violence in the north of the country is dead. They say Mohammed Yusuf who is the leader of the Boko Haram Islamist group was shot and killed while trying to escape police custody. Hundreds of people have died during five days of clashes between Yusuf's followers and security forces.

[Description of Source: Doha Al Jazeera English TV in English -- international English-language news service of Al-Jazirah, independent television station financed by the Qatari Government]

Nigeria: Yar'Adua Lauds Northern Governors for Mounting Campaign Against Sect

AFP20090731565011 Kano Daily Triumph Online in English 31 Jul 09

[Report by Kabiru Yusuf: "Yar'Adua Salutes Govs Over Crisis"]

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday warned youths in the country to shun all activities similar to that of the "Boko Haram" sect who had been perpetrating violence in some parts of the North of the country, commending Northern governors for mounting vigorous campaign against the sect.

The President tasked the Northern governors to mobilize the traditional and religious leaders in their respective states in the campaign against the notorious "Boko Haram" sect whom he said are only trying to bring insecurity and disharmony within the Nigerian territory.

While warning Nigerian young men and women who belong to other sects not to fraternize with "Boko Haram" to disrupt the peace and security of the nation, the President said "this is in a bid to forestall further escalation of ongoing sects violence on the occasion of today's Juma'at services across the country."

According to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, the president who had been in contact with most Northern governors, expressed delight in the campaign embarked upon by the governors.

The spokesman in an interview with State House correspondents, further said "President Yar'Adua who is currently on state visit to Brazil called and spoke to most of the Northern governors to advise that they mobilize traditional and religious leaders to mount a campaign against "Boko Haram" that seeks to disrupt the peace and security of the nation.

In his words: "The President feels particularly encouraged that some governors have already started implementing this initiative. "Groups such as "Boko Haram" which seeks to disrupt the peace and security of the Nigerian state, according to the president, should not accommodated by any true Muslim individual or group, because Islam promotes love and peace among Muslims and non-adherents.

"Specifically he seeks that governors encourage religious leaders to use the occasion of today's Juma'at services in all the mosques across the federation to warn young men and women about the danger of fraternizing with sects like "Boko Haram" and other such extremist groups which promote beliefs that infringe on the rights of others," the President stated.

[Description of Source: Kano Daily Triumph Online in English -- Website of the Kano State government daily; URL: http://www.triumphnewspapers.com]

Nigeria: Military Bombardment in Borno State Claims Islamic Sect Leader's Life

AFP20090731578007 Lagos This Day Online in English 31 Jul 09

[Report by Juliana Taiwo and Michael Olugbode: "Boko Haram Leader Killed President Orders Military Operation To Continue Sect Existing Since 1995, Says DQ"]

After nearly two days of military bombardment of his Maiduguri, Borno State base, the leader of the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, was killed yesterday in a shoot-out with security forces.

Yusuf's deputy arrested two days ago has also been killed while the militant's enclave has been levelled and the place taken over by soldiers.

Special Adviser on Media to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, told THISDAY last night that the President, who is still in Brazil on a state visit, had been informed about the development.

He said President Yar'Adua had also directed that the security agencies should not relent until they fish out and arrest all the remaining members of the sect wherever they might be.

Governor Ali Modu Sheriff in a broadcast to the people of the state said the victory against the fundamentalists was achieved with the help of God and that of President Yar'Adua, who he said intervened quickly by deploying troops in the state.

The governor promised to come out with a bill which will be presented to the state House of Assembly to regulate religious sermon in the state.

It also emerged last night that the sect had been in existence since 1995 and had operated under different names one of which was Ahlulsunna wal'jama'ah hijra.

Meanwhile, the military will begin what in their parlance is called "Show-of-Force" today in Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina and Yobe States to assure the civilian populace of their preparedness to curtail the activities of Boko Haram.

Stories had earlier gone out that the sect's leader had fled the town and was heading to either Chad or Cameroon.

He was said to have been sighted at Kirenuwa in the Northern part of Borno State fleeing the clampdown on him and members of his group on Wednesday evening.

Those who claimed to have seen him around Kirenuwa, which is along the road to Niger and Cameroon, said he was driven in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

He was said to be in company with some of his members who came in tow in another SUV.

Yusuf and members of Boko Haram, meaning Western education is sin, have been tormenting some parts of the North since last Sunday.

Early last Sunday, they clashed with policemen in Bauchi, Bauchi State leaving many dead in the wake of the attack.

The violence soon spread to Borno, Yobe and Kano States with even more casualties recorded.

But on Tuesday, soldiers moved into Yusuf's Maiduguri stronghold where they engaged members of the sect in fierce exchange of gunfire.

There were reports of heavy military bombardment of the enclave, though the sect members, said to be fully armed, inflicted some harm on the troops, killing some soldiers in the process.