WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2011-07-22 Time: 18:00:02 Posted By: News Poster
By Andrew Agbese
Jos – Former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) General Jeremiah Timbut Useni, recently sparked a controversy when he reportedly accused former Borno State governor of allowing Boko Haram to flourish. Sheriff has since replied saying he did not create the group. Useni in this interview with journalists in Jos explains what he said on the matter and speaks of other political developments in the country and in Plateau State.
Former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff has said that he did not create Boko Haram as you were reported to have said, what is your reaction?
I did not say he created Boko Haram. The people who published the information gave a wrong impression. What I said was that the way he allowed those roadside petrol sellers could have been the root cause of Boko Haram. Just as in Rivers there were so many armed thugs that had nothing doing and that was the genesis of the militia there.
In other words, you did not accuse him directly of introducing Boko Haram?
I did not say he created Boko Haram and the governor was right to say he did not create it; and that they were there before he became governor. But the question is; is he saying that if you see something wrong you should not correct it? He said they were there before he became governor but couldn’t he have driven them away? His not doing anything about it could have been the beginning of Boko Haram.
Former Head of State General Obasanjo said soldiers may not be able to eradicate the sect because of their structure. What do you think could be done to eradicate this problem?
I think it can be reduced even if not eradicated? We have been fighting armed robbery, is it not ongoing? It would take time for Boko Haram to be totally wiped out, but I think with the presence of the military in Maiduguri, the attacks would be reduced because people would not be allowed to move freely. We cannot talk of wiping out the menace completely for now, but definitely, it can be reduced with the presence of securities.
What is your take on the call by Elders of Borno that soldiers should be withdrawn from Maiduguri?
Well, l’m not in Borno. All the same the soldiers have replied and Mr President has made his comment so, what do you want me to say?
It has been alleged that members of Boko Haram have infiltrated the Army; do you think it could be true?
Well, I’m not in the Army so I don’t know. Go and ask them, an Army division is here in the state (Plateau).
How were you able to handle security situations when you were in government?
All we were doing was nipping it in the bud. Not allowing it to drag. Again, there were no sacred cows; we dealt with the situation as they came. But you know, in a situation where you hear stories of wrong being committed, like government officials stealing billions of naira, and nothing is done worsens the situation. So if you want to govern, close your eyes and do justice once and for all, even though people and situations differ, so is style of the administration.
What is the position of the Arewa Consultative Forum over the insecurity situation in the country, especially in the North?
Even before Boko Haram, we have had problems in the North which include lack of unity and tribal sentiments. I think we were better during Sardauna because he was for everybody, and everybody was his. He never discriminated on the basis of religion as it is being done today.
So based on that, when this issue of Boko Haram started, people thought it was religious crisis in Borno. Therefore no one cared about it, until it extended to Abuja. Most of the crises we are used to here in the North are religious, for instance the cases of Kaduna, Bauchi and here on the Plateau. So when Boko Haram came, people thought it was religious riot too. So the solution to this problem, to me, l think is good governance. It could solve the problem; people are pushed to the wall, so they fight back. I do know the present administration of President Jonathan inherited some of these problems, but he has to solve them. Even though it is gradual, he has to start somewhere.
Some believe that Boko Haram started because a southerner and a Christian is at the helm of affairs…
No, l don’t think so. To be fair to them, Boko Haram have not asked President Jonathan to resign; they are asking for the resignation of the governor of Borno State. They also asked for apologies from the governors of Bauchi and Gombe states; are those ones southerners? So we shouldn’t add insult to injury.
Do you share the idea that a state of emergency should be declared in Borno state?
What for?
Due to the prevailing insecurity challenge there?
Why? Has the government said it can’t govern the state? When there were calls for a state of emergency here on the Plateau we kicked against it. So why should I call for such on another state? It would not make any difference.
Here on the Plateau, we were almost on the verge of concluding our discussion when the emergency rule came and distorted all the processes. So I can’t support the declaration of emergency anywhere. But if the Federal Government feels the governor cannot run the state any longer, they know what to do. It is not for me to suggest.
How do you view government’s action not to prosecute the over 100 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect arrested recently?
I read in papers where MEND accused government of having double standard. Their reason for saying that was that government didn’t want to prosecute the 100 persons and they said they would resume attacks. May be government hasn’t got enough evidence against the suspects. I’m not in government, so I wouldn’t know. It’s left for government to reply them on why they have not taken action on the arrested persons. I have no right to speak for the government.
Government is prosecuting the police officers who allegedly killed the Boko Haram leaders about two years ago. How do you view this against the refusal to do same to the arrested 100 suspects?
But you see, these are two different things. Those leaders were arrested alive by the Army and handed over to the police because the law said they (Army) should not prosecute, nor detain such persons. So they handed over to those whose job it is to prosecute. But suddenly it was said they died. So I think that is the anger of the Boko Haram. I learnt it didn’t happen during Jonathan’s acting presidency, but whoever was responsible; government is government, so since government is now taking steps, it means that there was a crime committed.
Coming to Plateau, in Wase Local Government the person who was declared winner of the chairmanship election of the local government in 2008 had been refused entrance into office, and only recently too, Kanam Local Government Council was dissolved. What is your reaction over these happenings?
That has to do with the law of the land. I think the law is there for anyone who is not satisfied to seek redress. You are aware that my own local government, where I hail from, was denied victory over the same issue. It took me over a year, following due process, before we regained our victory. So the courts are there and I advise that if they feel the governor is wrong, they should go to court.
Also, a minister has been appointed from the same zone from where the governor is; how do you view this development?
There’s no law that says so. So you want to tell me that there is no minister from Bayelsa since Jonathan is president? We shouldn’t complain unnecessarily. As you can see, the zoning process is giving them problems now. You don’t zone things, look at Taraba State for instance, the state nominated Ando but the three senators from the state said no. Their reason was that, since he was appointed minister he didn’t do anything. They rallied round their colleagues in the Senate and voted no for him.
This brings us to the question of zoning. People say that with the election of President Jonathan and Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, zoning has been jettisoned; do you agree with this?
I never believe in zoning at that level.
So at what level do you believe there should be zoning?
Well, at the state, to some extent, yes. For instance in Plateau, Governor Jang is from the northern senatorial zone, now if he finishes his tenure, I don’t expect any one from the zone to contest governorship.
There were complaints that at the time you served in the military there seemed to be dominance of officers from the far north in governance. As an elder from the North Central, do you support calls that next time the presidential slot is zoned to North, it should go to the North Central?
You see, military administration cannot be compared with democracy because in the military, when you plan to change any government and you fail, you will be shot. I think you should note that one. So it is a different situation entirely.
In any case when Abacha became Head of State, being next to him, I could have been Chief of General Staff, but it was given to Diya from the south. So you see even during the military there was political balancing, talk less of a democratically elected government.
Original Source: 
Original date published: 22 July 2011
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201107220836.html?viewall=1