Elechi accuses politicians of hijacking Boko Haram.

By PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI—GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, yesterday, accused selfish politicians of hijacking the activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram to destabilize the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Governor noted that such antagonism against President Jonathan started immediately after he (Jonathan) emerged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential candidate in the last general election in the country.
Elechi who stated this when he received members of the Muslim Community who paid him an Eid-el-Fitri homage at the government house, Abakaliki, condemned moves by the Federal Government to dialogue with the sect.
He argued that there was no basis for anybody to compare the sect’s agitation with that of the Niger Delta militants, who were granted amnesty by the federal government, insisting that the activities of the Boko Haram in the country was politically motivated.
He said: “When oil was subsequently discovered in the area, its tapping process polluted their environment and this affected their agricultural, environmental and general wellbeing. Though the youths from the area might have overreacted, their actions were still justified than that of the Boko Haram, which has no case to make. Immediately Jonathan was announced the winner of the primaries at the Eagle Square Abuja, Northern Governors started receiving text messages from their people accusing them of being Anti-Islam”
Earlier, Chairman of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and Leader of the delegation Alhaji Suleiman Ogah, who commended the Governor for his developmental efforts especially at the rural areas, emphasised that “Islam as a religion does not preach violence but peace.”