Boko Haram: President visits Borno, Yobe today

President Goodluck Jonathan will today commence two-day official visit to Borno and Yobe states, the first since he became president. His initial plan to be in Borno for the flag-off of his presidential campaigns for the northeast in the build-up to the 2011 electioneering was cancelled midway and shifted to the neighbouring Gombe State.He had been severally accused by the Borno Elders Forum and government of Borno State of refusing to visit the troubled states, which had witnessed persistent Boko Haram attacks.
More than 2,000 people have died in the two states since the 2009 uprising. Today’s visit by the president is coming barely a week after eight governors of the newly formed opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed Maiduguri in what they described as a visit “to sympathise with the people who lost their loved ones and properties.”
Residents of Borno and Yobe believe the visit of the APC governor presumably compelled the president to come to the area though Vice President Namadi Sambo had during his one-day official visit to Borno early February promised the readiness of the president “to visit soon.” According to sources from the presidential visit planning committees in Maiduguri and Damaturu, Jonathan who is expected to arrive Maiduguri Airport before 12 noon would proceed to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, about 120 kilometres from the airport.
He is billed to commission a 300-housing unit along Gujba Road built by Yobe State government and a library complex at the state-owned Bukar Abba Ibrahim University after which he would be expected to hold a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, elders and community leaders as well as religious leaders. The president is also expected to return to Maiduguri same day (Thursday) for similar town hall meeting on the lingering security problem in the area.
A PDP chieftain in Borno said the president’s visit today was like “a confidence building mission” especially for the leader that had been repeatedly criticised by the people for his alleged poor handling of the Boko Haram insurgence. Security has been beefed up in both Maiduguri and Damaturu to make the president visit a hitch free even as some aides of the president and security personnel have already arrived the two states. Meanwhile, Borno State government has declared Friday March 8 a work free day for both “public and private sectors.” A statement from the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Alhaji Baba Ahmed Jidda said the work free day is “in honour of the visit of Mr President to Borno State.”
SUN