Yobe People Demand Marshal Plan From Buhari

The people of Yobe have urged President-elect, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to implement a marshal plan to revive the socio-economic life of communities devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Sen. Ahmad Lawan told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Thursday that the six years of insurgency in the North east had destroyed the economy and social lives of the people.

“We need a marshal plan under the incoming administration of Gen. Buhari with a special package just like the amnesty programme of the Niger-Delta to revitalise the local economy and the social environment,” Lawan said.

“Like the amnesty programme instituted in 2009, so much improvement has been achieved in Niger-Delta today because of the resources channelled into the region. “We in the North East region also deserve special resources to revitalise the decayed infrastructures destroyed by the insurgents,” Ahmad said.

Similarly, Alhaji Abubakar Bakabe, APC Secretary in Yobe, said the state and other states affected by the insurgency needed special attention to rebuild infrastructures destroyed by insurgency. “Schools, hospitals and other public infrastructures destroyed in the affected communities need to be revived to provide education, healthcare and skill acquisition training for self reliance.”

Alhaji Abubakar said: “Yobe has suffered long neglect because we were in the opposition but, we hope this will change as the state now belongs to the ruling party.’’ Alhaji Habibu Abubakar, a retired civil servant in Damaturu, said: “We are optimistic that the Federal Government under Buhari will intensify the fight against Boko Haram and eliminate them.’’

“Buhari’s acceptance speech and his declaration against Boko Haram gives us hope and courage that the end of insurgency is in sight.’’ Hauwa Sani, a student said that women and children, especially widows and orphans who were victims of Boko Haram deserved special attention from the Federal Government to help them resettle otherwise “the change will mean nothing to them.