I Don’t Think It Is Good For The Government To Remain In Office - Borno Senator

SaharaTV’s Rudolf Okonkwo spoke with Senator Khalifa Zanna, of Borno State, last weekend about the recent kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School, in Chibok, Nigeria on April 14th.The abduction has sparked a mass movement around the world, and on varioussocial media platforms, with people using the term #BringBackOurGirls to express their frustrations with the incident.

“The social media campaign has been very helpful because now, the government feels asense or urgency,” said Zanna.

”Asked whether he feels that the government and military are in control, after listening to President Goodluck Jonathan, the senator responded, “I don’t think they [Nigerian Military] are in control of the situation, because if they were in control of the situation, at least some girls might have been discovered by the security agencies.

”Zanna also elaborated further on the security issue in his state.

“Even when the military are there, the killings haven’t stopped, even for a day,” he said.

He also expressed his concerns about allowing the military into other settings.

“I am advising other States not to allow the military to get into their territories because, past experience has been very nasty,” he said.

“I can't advise any society to use the Nigerian police; sometimes they behave like ‘mad men.’”Concerning the delay of the search for the girls, Zanna said his feelings about the matter are mixed, and that there are obstacles in the way.

“They say they are still planning. And also, certain (types of) equipment are expected sothat when they receive (that) equipment, it isthere they will start a full scale operation,” he said. “They promised that maybe within [the] next two, three weeks, they would discover the girls.”Following the abduction, 22 senators from different Nigerian States met with president Goodluck Jonathan, it was there where they briefed him on what was discussed in the Senate.“For me and my colleague from Borno, we only dwelled on the missing girls,” said Zanna. “So we didn’t talk much on what (else) is happening in the State.”According to Zanna, most of the areas or thevillages around major cities are infested with the Boko Haram, and their sympathizers, and he feels a different approach should be taken in order for the girls to be returned safely to their families.“They need to change their strategy, particularly the way the military are operating only on the highways, rather than going into the bush in pursuit of the insurgents,” he added.Asked whether someone should be held accountable for what is going on in Nigeria, he said:“Yes of course, because the security situation in the country has gotten to a level that it bothers every person in Nigeria,” said Zanna. Therefore, if there is nothing tangiblecoming in the near future, I don’t think it is good for them to remain in office.”Finally, Zanna expressed his overall dissatisfaction with Nigeria and the path in which it is heading."If care is not taken, we will not have a generation to produce anything," the Borno State Senator said glumly.