Monguno flays Obasanjo over graft, Boko Haram
A MEMBER representing Garko Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abba Garko, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Kano at the weekend.
Gunmen also struck in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, killing Rev. Ilesha Kabura of Ekilisiya Yanwa Nigeria (EYN) Church before his wife and children in Polo ward at about 7.30 a.m. on Sunday.
The gunmen in Kano were said to have trailed the lawmaker on a motorcycle. They finally got him at Unguwa Uku in Kano. Two other persons that were with the lawmaker were said to have been injured by the gunmen.
There was no detailed account of how the member was killed and others injured. But an eyewitness said the gunmen fled from the scene immediately after the incident happened.
He was shot in the chest when he was with his friends. Immediately after he was shot dead, the gunmen opened fire on his friends and left. The injured friends were quickly taken to the hospital by the Joint Task Force (JTF) who arrived at the scene immediately after the operation. It was also revealed that the place was condoned off by the JTF.
Up to the time of filing this report nothing was heard from the security agencies. All efforts to reach the spokesman of JTF, Captain Ikedichi Iweha and the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majiya, proved abortive.
An eyewitness and resident of Polo ward, Ishaku Musa said the gunmen in Maiduguri came in a tricycle and trailed the house of Ilesha, while preparing for a church service at 8 a.m., before firing several gunshots into his head and chest. He said the assailants fled towards the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot, before men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) rushed to the scene at about 8.30 a.m.
The Guardian also learnt that Ilesha was said to have been issued a threat letter early this year, but his closed aides said: "When we asked him to relocate because of the Boko Haram threat letter, our reverend said he left everything to God, as he was the only protector, no matter the circumstances that could lead to his death or assassination by the Islamist sect members."
The Polo area, including the road that leads to the cleric's house was condoned off yesterday by the JTF and police.
Confirming the incident yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State Police Command spokesman, Gideon Jibrin, said that there was an attack at the residence of the cleric in the Polo area of Maiduguri yesterday where gunmen in a tricycle attacked the house of a retired Christian cleric.
He said on locating the house, the gunmen opened fire and shot one cleric dead, before men of the JTF rushed to the scene at 8.30 a.m.
On whether arrests were made, he, however, said that none of the assailants was arrested by either the JTF or police.
Meanwhile, elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, at the weekend disagreed with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent comments on President Goodluck Jonathan's response to corruption and the Boko Haram threat.
He stated that the former Nigerian president was wide off the mark.
Obasanjo had during an occasion to mark the 40th anniversary on the pulpit of clergyman, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor criticized government's response to corruption and the murderous activities of the Boko Haram.
The former President also faulted government's approach in arresting the threat insinuating that Jonathan was weak.
Obasanjo added that the present government missed an opportunity to solve the problem by not going tough on the insurgents at the early stage comparing the present approach of Jonathan to his response to the killing of 19 soldiers in Odi in Rivers State.
But Monguno, speaking to journalists in Maiduguri, Borno State, faulted former President Obasanjo, noting that he had no moral right to criticize his successors.
He said: "Somebody who wanted to extend beyond the constitutional term, tried his very best to extend but was rejected is now advising government to do the wrong thing.
"I do not agree with our former President that the President should use force, use the military to crush what they always call the Boko Haram."
According to him, he does not believe what he sees, hears or reads in the media, describing Jonathan as weak does not even arise.
He said that even in the military soldiers do not want to go to war unless it is absolutely necessary.
He noted that even the United Nations does not believe in using force in situations like this and advised Obasanjo to reexamine his military and political way of life.
Monguno said that rather than use force, Jonathan should explore peaceful means of resolving the Boko Haram threat, adding: "The President could come out and still employ the same tactics, which he and the late president (Umaru Yar'Adua) employed to have persuaded the militants. He could have employed the same methods to the Boko Haram of the north. The northerners were expectant that he was going to use that."
The one-time Petroleum minister called on government to realize that every child born belongs to Nigeria and attention should be given to all to improve standard of living.
