Ex-Obasanjo’s aide faults Boko Haram claim on killings
Former Special Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Media
and Publicity, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has faulted statements credited to Boko
Haram that it was responsible for the killings in Plateau State on
Saturday and Sunday.
Okupe told our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday that the
claim of the Islamic fundamentalists was an attempt to pit
Christians against Muslims.
Okupe said, “I do not believe the claim by Boko Haram that it is
responsible for what happened in Jos in the last couple of days. This is
an input by people who are desperate to create turmoil, confusion and
chaos in the country. They want to set Muslims against Christians.
“It is to further destabilise and intimidate the government.
“The problem in Jos is a territorial and ethnic crisis between the
Hausa/Fulani people and the indigenes of Plateau State. It has no
religious consideration.”
He added, “The tribal groups that have been fighting in Jos have
never spoken before. They have no media voice or image. This is a
blatant falsification of opinion. This is the hand of Esau and Jacob.
This is not their voice. They do not speak. The calibre of people
fighting in Jos are not political or religious. The pattern of the
killings in Jos has no religious colouration. Anybody can lay claims to
killings, if it falls in line with Boko Haram’s interest, they will not
deny it.”
He, however, appealed to Christians, especially those in the South
to disregard the claim and resist any group proposing religious crisis
in the country.
Okupe blamed the security agencies in Plateau for the mass killings
on Sunday, calling on the Federal Government to commit more funds and
deploy more security personnel in the state.
He added, “ The problem we have is that there is a war going on in
some parts of the country and we have refused to accept that it is war.”
