Yobe governor challenges Jonathan on blasts

Worried by the killing of 35 students by a suicide bomber, a heart-broken Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Monday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to explain to the people why insurgents were having a field day in the state despite the imposition of emergency rule.
He said the Federal Government must take action instead of indulging in the condemnation of such dastardly attacks.
The governor spoke in a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego.
It was the first time the quiet governor will bare his mind in a distraught manner.
The statement said: “This morning, our state woke up to a very sad and heart-breaking news of a bomb attack on our young students at Government Comprehensive School, Potiskum, in which no fewer than 35 students were killed and many more injured.
“The thoughts of His Excellency, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam and his prayers are with the parents, teachers and families of the innocent victims of this callous and reprehensible attack.
“The governor is heartbroken and words cannot adequately convey the extent of his remorse and sadness.
“The governor has noted that this is the fifth time in a little over one year when our schools in Yobe State were brutally attacked and students killed. There was Government Secondary School, Damaturu; Government Secondary School Mamudo; College of Agriculture, Gujba; Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi; and now Government Comprehensive School, Potiskum.
“Governor Gaidam deeply regrets that all of these dastardly attacks took place under a climate of Emergency Rule declared in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States by President Goodluck Jonathan.
“In theory, the Emergency Rule Declaration was a signal that more vigorous steps would be taken to protect the lives and property of people in the affected states and deploy the full might of the federal government to restore peace and security.
“Unfortunately, this has not been fully the case. Instead of forcing insurgents and criminals to flee, the insurgents are forcing innocent people to flee and making life miserable for everyone.
“Governor Gaidam believes that President Goodluck Jonathan has a very urgent responsibility to explain to the people of Yobe State and people all across the affected states why murderous and callous insurgent and criminal attacks are still on the rise despite the State of Emergency.”
The governor demanded immediate action by the federal government to stem the tide of bombings in the state.