Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan faces renewed scepticism from northerners

© Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/afrol News

afrol News, 7 October - As Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has ruled out that rebels from his own Niger Delta region stood behind the car bombs on independence day, government directs suspicions towards the Muslim north. Even Islamist terrorists are suspected.

President Jonathan did not need a long time to be convinced by the leaders of the MEND rebels of the Niger Delta, his own home province, as they insisted on their innocence after the twin car bombs. Already on Sunday, two days after the bombs, the President stated that "investigations show" MEND was not behind the blasts.

At the same occasion, President Jonathan indicated "it is a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria that was paid by some people within to perpetrate the dastardly act. We are on their trail and I promise Nigerians that the matter will be investigated to the last," he added.

Shortly after, the first accusations against the President were made, claiming he was too quick to eliminate the MEND rebels and intended to blame the northerners. Claims emerged that an aide of President Jonathan made calls to allies to "blame the 1 October bombings on Northern politicians."

The accusations obviously were taken seriously among many Nigerians and were widely referred to in the local press. Given the increased suspicion between the north and south, the rumour that Muslim leaders should be blamed spread especially quickly.

The Presidency had to react. The accusation against the Jonathan government "of course is an outright lie," spokesman Ima Niboro said in a press statement. The man spreading this rumour, Henry Okah, himself had "been openly charged for masterminding the terror attacks against his home country," the Abuja presidency added.

Meanwhile, another wave political violence, including the killing of prominent northern politicians, is put in connection with the car bombs. The killings again are being blamed on the Boko Haram Muslim sect, often referred to as radical Islamists based in northern Nigeria.

Boko Haram is linked to an uprising in northern Nigeria last year. The group is repeatedly blamed for political violence by local authorities in the north. Their alleged misdeeds include the attack on a prison and the killing of police officers and politicians.

For President Jonathan, the suspicions against Muslim groups are harmful, whether proven or not, as many northerners may conclude on a southern conspiracy.

The ever-present north-south conflict in Nigeria in any case is accentuated by President Jonathan's announced candidacy in the upcoming elections. According to tradition, a southerner is now in line to become Nigeria's next President.

By staff writers

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

UN will not monitor human rights in Western Sahara afrol News - The US has backed down on its demand that UN peacekeepers in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara also shall monitor the human rights situation after Moroccan sources threatened to scale down relations with Washington. Read more

Central African Republic

Central African Republic falling apart afrol News - One month after the rebel movement Séléka took over power in the Central African Republic, unrest is spreading in the country. The new leader lacks control of his forces, which continue looting and abusing civilians. Read more

Kenya

Kenyatta secures tight victory in Kenya afrol News - The official election results in Kenya have finally been announced, and Uhuru Kenyatta managed to win the first poll round outright with a narrow 50.7 percent. But the main opponent, PM Raila Odinga, is filing a vote rigging complaint to the courts. Read more

Cape Verde Cape Verde to produce dragon fruit afrol News - Cape Verde authorities have invested large sums to diversify the arid country's agricultural sector. Now, the dragon fruit, originating in tropical America, is being introduced for the first commercial production in Africa. Read more

Egypt Even governors in Pharaonic Egypt died in their 20s afrol News - Researchers have analysed more than 200 mummies from ancient Egypt, finding that even high dignitaries were poorly nourished and had infectious diseases. The typical governor in Pharaonic Egypt died before he was 30 years old. Read more