Northern senators not in sympathy with Boko Haram, says Ningi

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Senator Abdu Ningi, has said that Senators from the North are not in sympathy with the Boko Haram sect. Ningi also debunked the claims that the sect evolved to specifically fight against the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, that the Boko Haram insurgence started long before Jonathan came into power, adding that the sect assumed its current combative nature during the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration. “I am a victim of Boko Haram, my uncle was assassinated in cold blood by the sect; he was a former Deputy Inspector General of Police. “So, if people are saying that because you are a Hausa Muslim and Northerner you are in sympathy, I will say it is not true. “If it was true how come, the statistics on ground shows that more Muslims are killed than the Christians.’’ Ningi added that the Boko Haram is a sect not common to the generality of Muslims, particularly in Nigeria. “What we as Senators from the North do at this retreat is to make our Southern Senators know that the Boko Haram has a different belief from other Muslims. “What they preach and do is beyond our understanding. This sect is very dangerous.’’ Ningi promised his Southern counterparts that Senators from the region would continue to work in unity to bring an end to the current security challenges. On Constitution review, he said the Senate would embark on a retreat within the next two weeks to articulate detailed areas that needed to be amended. He said the retreat would also afford Nigerians the opportunity to make input in areas not covered by the National Assembly.