His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi
II. Photo: BBC
Speaking on Saturday at the 2014
yearly Dinner/Exhibition organised by the Kings College Old Boys Association
(KCOBA) to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the college, he blamed
illiteracy and high rate of poverty in the country for the emergence of the
Boko Haram, Guardian reports.
The Emir, who is also the Vice
President of KCOBA, stated that the Federal Government neglected their menace,
which has now become an embarrassment to the Northerners.
“The lack of education and poverty
create the kind of group we see like Boko Haram. Activities of those groups
increase poverty and reduce access to education and therefore create an even
poorer and less educative society for the future. If any kind of group can
target educational institutions for the sole purpose of discouraging people
from getting education, it tells you how far we have sunk and it tells you the
kind of emergency that we face in the North because it is nothing short of a
vicious cycle” he said.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria
governor further stated that the menace of Boko Haram has been ignored for too
long saying; “it can no longer be ignored.”
According to him, Boko Haram which
started in 2001 has now grown into a real monster. Although he agreed there is
a military solution to it, he however, insisted on re-orientation,
enlightenment and awareness on the importance of education on the country’s
younger generation.
“So for me, I have assumed this role
at a time of great difficulty, when we are facing challenges, and I will like
to first of all request all Kings College boys and all friends to come to our
aid with any kind of support, ideas, analysis or recommendations on how we can
confront this menace. Not just the security aspect, but also the entire mindset
because it has set the North back probably by half a century” the Emir said.
