Condemnation has come from clergy and politicians for the latest round of violence in the North, in Maiduguri, and particularly in Jos, where the casualty figures rose on Sunday on top of the bomb blasts that shattered the city on Christmas eve and killed dozens.
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Oluseye Petirin, visited Jos on Monday, the day three suspects were arrested.
In Bayelsa, President Goodluck Jonathan blamed traditional rulers for the violence in some parts of the country, which led to the loss of lives even when everyone was supposed to be celebrating peace.
Chris Okotie, the Pastor of Household of God Church in Lagos and Presidential candidate of FRESH Party, condemned the bombings in Jos; so did Citizens Popular Party (CPP) National Chairman, Maxi Okwu, and Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) National Chairman, Balarabe Musa.
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member, Silas Janfa, challenged Abuja to address the fundamental issues behind the conflict, demanding to know, for instance, how bombs came into the Plateau.
Jonathan spoke in Otuoke at the coronation of the traditional ruler of Otuoke, Lot Ogiasa, and his assistants, Paul Engoye and Moses Otazi.
He urged traditional rulers to reside in their domains, rather than live elsewhere, so as to enable them identify and solve problems.
He expressed appreciation for the roles played by traditional rulers, even without constitutional backing.
Jonathan, accompanied by his wife, Patience, promised to present a Bill to the National Assembly (NASS) next year on the constitutional roles of monarchs so that they could be well positioned by law.
He arrived Otuoke Community School field at 12.25 p.m. and headed straight to the venue of the event, Patience Jonathan Square.
Other dignitaries present included Governors Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers); former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia; and federal lawmakers.
Omehia, who arrived late, shunned his cousin, Amaechi, but greeted Jonathan, Sylva and others.
There was apprehension at a point when a middle-aged woman collapsed and was immediately carried out of the venue by other women and Jonathan’s aides to near by hospital.
The reasons for her passing out could not be confirmed.
Jonathan urged traditional rulers to make sacrifice to enable peace and development reign in their communities, rather than the current spectre of the destruction of lives and property.
He said Ogiasa deserved to be made the monarch of Otuoke because he is a selfless and transparent leader he has known from his undergraduate days at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
His words: “As an indigene of this small village, I was born and grew up here. I thank all of you for finding time to grace the occasion.
“Lot Ogiasa is somebody I have high respect for. He started as a very young person to play a leadership role. While in Port Harcourt, Ogiasa motivated me in community affairs and development. He encouraged us in community affairs.”
Sylva promised to liaise with the state Council of Traditional Rulers to review the traditional institution, “one of the most respected in the country.”
Sylva renewed his support and those of other Bayelsans for the Jonathan Presidency.
Jonathan returned to Abuja on Monday.
Back in Jos, Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander, Captain Charles Ekeocha, disclosed that three persons in possession of dynamite were arrested and handed over to the police.
Other dangerous materials were also recovered from different locations in the city.
Petirin, the Chief of Defence Staff, visited all the hospitals where those injured are receiving treatment, and gave an assurance that Abuja will fish out the bombers.
He also visited Governor Jonah Jang and the traditional ruler of Jos, Gyang Buba.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau Chairman, B. Dafes, declared five days of mourning and fasting over the attacks.
From Lagos, Okotie condemned “the senseless destruction of lives and property in Jos, regardless of the motives of the perpetrators. This is what we least expect in this Christmas season when we are celebrating Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
“Jos used to be a quiet, calm city, noted for its friendly people, until fanatics invaded the populace.”
He urged Jonathan to find a lasting solution to this “perennial unrest, especially as we approach election year.”
Okwu, the CPP Chairman, noted that, “Misguided elements in the country have resorted to the use of bomb which is alien to our culture.
“The October 1 bomb blasts in Abuja that marred Nigeria’s golden jubilee celebration, the serial bomb blasts in Delta State, the seizure of containers loaded with sophisticated weapons and explosives in Lagos, portend grave danger to the security, unity, and stability of the country.”
Musa added in a telephone interview from Kaduna that, “Organised violence has continued up till now because perpetrators of previous incidents were not brought to book; there has been so much indifference to the matter on the part of the government.
“This was not how government responded to organised violence in the colonial period, and if the government does not do something different this situation would continue.”
Dec282010