Bomb blast: Northern delegate blasts presidency

Following Monday's bomb explosion that rocked Kano State that claimed over 10 lives, a northern delegate at the ongoing National Conference, Mallam Sani Zoro, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan-led government of bias towards states under opposition parties in its condolence messages.Zoro, a former national president of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), representing the media at the conference, drew the attention of delegates to the failure of the Presidency to commiserate with the people of Kano State over Monday's bomb blast.

Zoro said: "The last time this body agreed to convey a condolence to the government and people of Plateau State, there was no expression of sympathy to the people of Kano State. Mr. Chairman, my analyses have shown that condolences have not been extended to states that are not controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

"This lack of communication by Mr. President is unfair. Anybody, who is saying that I am wrong should show me where the Presidency has sent condolences to people in the North-West zone. I want to  bring to the notice of this August House that the Presidency should send messages of condolences to the people of Kano State."

As a core media practitioner, Zoro said he subscribed and got all the news alerts from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and had monitored with interest how the presidency had responded and commiserated with victims of bomb blasts in the last two years, adding that Presidency seemed to have chosen states and people to commiserate with when such things happen.  Also reacting to the issue, Senator Adefemi Killa, who also condemned the killing of innocent citizens and called for a one minute silence, urged the government to declare total war on terrorism.

"We need to hammer on issues that bring this country together more than what divide us. One of such is the performance of the Super Eagles at the World Cup. I want this conference to support the team tomorrow," he said.

The delegate further commended the conduct of the election in Ekiti State, including the conduct of the Governor Kayode Fayemi and the Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, saying "this is the kind of thing we want in this country." Responding, the conference' vice chairman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, said "the bombing in Kano is a very disturbing phenomenon. It is one too many, but let us be careful not to politicise tragedy."

He recalled how he was insulted by one of the victims of a bomb blast in Kano, saying that when the victim later opened his wound, it was clear that the person was under pressure and his aggression was justifiable.

He also mentioned how his team was attacked by Boko Haram in Borno state while on a visit to the state to commiserate with victims of terror attacks but was saved by the intervention of the military.

The Conference therefore agreed to send a condolence letter to the victims of bomb blast in Kano, the Kano state government and the federal government.

The plenary also observed a minute silence for the repose of the souls of the dead.



Source: Sunnews

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