From Bauchi
Former Minister Establishment and central committee Chairman North East Forum for Unity and Development Alhaji Bello Kirfi (Wazirin Bauchi) has threatened that the region would pull out of Nigeria and take their destiny into their hands if the need arise.
Kirfi stated this yesterday in Bauchi during the inauguration of its action committee at the indoor sports Hall Multipurpose Bauchi saying that the region “cannot afford as history shall not forgive us nor shall we be worthy children of our forefathers in allowing their labours to go down the drain”.
According to Danjuma, Kirfi’s statement was “This has serious ambiguity and weighty stamen to make. As someone who went to the war front and survived it, I must warn that this statement be withdraw immediately.”
Having realized the implication of Kirfi’s statement , Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, came to the podium and announced that the statemen had been withdrawn, a move that elicited applause and in compliance Kirfi swiftly announced the withdrawal of the statement but stressed it was “ for the meantime
The inauguration meeting which attracted prominent elders and politicians from the zone include General Theophilus Danjuma, Adamu Ciroma, Yayale Ahmed, and Professor Jibrin Aminu, Nuhu Ribadu, Professor Ango Abdullahi, Maina Waziri, General Timothy Shelpidi and three ministers.
Others include General Yakubu Usman, deputy senate leader Abdul Ningi, Senator Aisha Alhassan, former minister of Women Affairs Inna Ciroma, Emir of Fika former education Minister Alhaji Dauda Brima among top prominent citizens of the region.
However, the North East Governors absence at the inauguration, according to General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who is the special guest at the occasion said that was as a result of their suspicion that the meeting had political undertone rather than genuinely address the problems bedeviling the region.
The retired general explained that, “I was that all the six governors of the region will attend the meeting but three days ago one of them called me and told me that all of them have resolved not to come and even advice me to stay away that there is hidden agenda.
On this note he proposes that the inauguration should not be carried out except that of security and giving his assurance to be a part of the security committee, the former war lord said.
The former defense minister said he went back to read the minutes of the meetings held by the Forum including the draft speech adding, “I am not in a position to pass judgment but this development has created doubt in my mind regarding the motive of forum. I therefore suggest that this meeting should be adjourned immediately and be reconvened later at a later date when we would have been able to persuade the governors to join us in this noble undertaken.”
Danjuma who was to supervised the inauguration therefore proposed that the inauguration of the action committees should not be carried out except that of the security adding that, “ I suggest that the security committee when inaugurated should approach and persuade the governors them in fact be the convener of the meeting.
In conclusion, I would like to dissociate my self from the concluding part of Bello Kirfi speech that The sentence I want to draw attention to is the concluding part professor the speech which he said, “In fact we must as a matter of obligation carry it out to its logically conclusion by; I dare say that if need be by puling out of Nigerians. We must take our destiny into our hands”
It will be recalled that the meeting was first held in June 13, with the name North East Forum of Concerned Leaders and later changed to North East Forum Forum for Unity and Development (NEFUD). The forum was worried about the current insecurity and economic underdevelopment of the region blaming on marginalization, corruption among others
