The Interior Minister, Mark Owen Woyongo is reported as saying, \u2018\u2026I\u2019m aware there were a few isolated clashes and it is across the political divide; it wasn\u2019t just on one [side]. NPP people were attacked; NDC people were also attacked so it cut across the political divide.\u201d He said, \u201cViolence begets violence\u201d; the Azorka Boys would not mete out violence if they were not provoked. The other side also brought in some people; the \u2018invisible forces\u2019 and the \u2018Bolga Bull Dogs\u2019, so violence begets violence\u2019. He said the \u2018Azorka Boys\u2019 were just protecting themselves which is only human.<\/p>\n
The assertion that, there were few isolated clashes seeks to show his attempt to minimise the problem when injuries were recorded and individuals traumatised as a result.<\/p>\n
Seemingly, Mr Woyongo is aware of the existence of these groups alleged to be causing violence, yet his outfit allowed them to flourish. If this trend continues, more and more of similar groups would be formed to counter each other rendering the national security impotent. The long term effect is mercenaries\/terrorist developing out of them to disturb the peace of the entire nation.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”jXTLeBlFtThPspFvV7wIspGvPDa2mrG0″]Nasara UK condemns in no uncertain terms the unfortunate and reckless remarks from the Honourable Minister. We find it particularly worrying and disturbing when such an utterance is coming from a high ranking governmental official with the sole mandate of keeping and ensuring peace and calm in the country. We were in the middle of our Holy month of Ramadan when our brother made this statement.<\/p>\n
We therefore couldn\u2019t comment as we were keen on focusing on the observance of the third pillar of Islam. \u2018Insha Allah\u2019 we have had a blissful \u2018Eid-Ul-Fitr\u2019 and as part of our \u2018Baraka da Sallah\u2019 presents, it seems fitting for us, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write out for you in the appropriate order, most beloved Brother Woyongo.<\/p>\n
Our Brother sadly endorses the formation of Boko Haram in Ghana<\/p>\n
Dear Brother, Uncle and Father (whichever is applicable) Woyongo. Kindly be reminded that the origins of the group Boko Haram lie in a youth group at the Alhaji Muhammadu Ndimi mosque in Maiduguri in Borno state in northeastern Nigeria in the mid-1990s. Muhammad Yusuf assumed leadership of the group at that time. Yusuf was a student of Ja\u2018far Mahmud Adam, a prominent Ahlus Sunna<\/em> cleric based in Kano, and for some time, was considered a potential successor to Adam.<\/p>\n Yusuf and Adam apparently fell out around 2002, and Yusuf began to withdraw from the Ndimi mosque to establish his own community around a new compound in Maiduguri from where he launched what became known as Boko Haram. At the height of public polemical exchanges between Yusuf and Adam, the latter was gunned down in 2007 during early morning prayers inside a mosque in Kano, apparently on the orders of Yusuf.<\/p>\n Both federal and national politicians under Sani Abacha, Abdul Salam Abubakari and Olusegun Obasanjo saw this \u2018baby dinosaur\u2019 growing but turned a blind eye. To the extent that some of these politician, like you, Brother \u2018Boko-minded\u2019 Woyongo, made careless statements in support of Mohammed Yusuf\u2019s terrorist activities in Maiduguri.<\/p>\n Woyongo-like politicians in Nigeria who were only interested in being seen in suits rather than connecting more with their kith and kin encouraged\u00a0 Muhammadu Yusuf who continued to mobilise and consolidate his group until July 2009, when following a confrontation with police, the group\u2019s compound and Mosque in Maiduguri was razed to the ground. Yusuf himself was captured by the military and handed over to the police, who by all accounts, executed him.<\/p>\n Several members were killed and some escaped into neighbouring Niger and Cameroun. Others went to Algeria and Somalia for training in militant camps. Abubakar Shekau, Yusuf\u2019s second-in-command, assumed leadership, and from 2010 started a wave of brutal attacks apparently to avenge Yusuf\u2019s death. Today what do we see? We demand an answer, dear brother. Northern Ghana is all that we have so spare a thought for posterity in this volatile area of Ghana the next time you have such an opportunity to. You are a minister for all and not an NDC minister or the patron of Azorka boys. We know you know this- this is just a reminder.<\/p>\n Imagine what would have happened in Ghana on 29th<\/sup> August 2013 if the Insha Allah, President in waiting, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, in his response to the disgraceful Atubiga verdict, had stated \u2018violence begets violence\u2019 or \u2018bad judgement begets bad judgement\u2019 \u2018so my dear Kukrudites go out there on the streets and exhibit activities of bad judgement\u2019.\u00a0 However, Nana, in an unparalleled display of astuteness, opted to think about Ghana first. Believe it or not, it is Nana\u2019s utterance after the Supreme Court verdict that is winning him the presidency in 2016. In other words, Nana won the Presidency on 29th<\/sup> August 2013.<\/p>\n It is quite reasonable to conclude that, your \u2018violence begets violence\u2019 utterance will switch all level headed NDC supporters, especially those from the North, to consider voting for NPP rather than the NDC. Why not? Yes, they will, because you reason like Abubakari Shekau, the Boko Haram leader. We think it is important to remind you at this point that, Boko Haram\u2019s ideology has four main features; the 4th<\/sup> feature is the use of violence (militant jihad) to achieve their goals. Thank you Brother \u2018Boko\u2019. \u2018Violence begets violence\u2019 indeed.\u00a0 Some politicians said something similar to the then infant Boko Haram a few years ago. Now they are out there growing from strength to strength, executing terror upon terror on innocent girls, women and innocent future leaders all over Africa.<\/p>\n Dear Brother Minister, we the Northerners live in a glass house<\/strong><\/p>\n Nasara is particularly concerned about your statement because in our part of Ghana, the only place we have has a history as well as several ongoing violent conflicts. The North, the Zongos and the settler communities have often been targeted and its vulnerability exploited by politicians like you who have nothing to offer but to whip ethnic sentiments to win elections. With high youth unemployment and unprecedented poverty on the rise in these communities, your statement offers a disgraceful \u2018carte blanche\u2019 for unprecedented violence.<\/p>\n It is therefore with regret to learn that, one of our own, paid by the tax payer (Ghanaian citizenry), could make a statement that suggests that violence is acceptable. To make matters worse, the statement is said to be coming from a minister entrusted with the peace and security of the nation. There is no excuse or need for such statements to be made by anyone.<\/p>\n We, the Nasara NPP believe in being our brother\u2019s keeper so we wish to provide just a few hotspots in the North for your reflection: Dear Honourable Brother Minister, among the Nanumba of the Northern Region, two persons from the royal gate of Gbugmayili <\/em>lay claim to the position of the Bimbilla Na, the king of the Nanumba people. We know you are aware of the delicate nature of this conflict but we will touch on this again in another paragraph. Keep reading.<\/p>\n Similarly, in the West Mamprusi District the rejection of a candidate selected to be the paramount chief of Wungu by his competitors and the youth of the town resulted in a decade-long dispute that frequently turned violent. \u00a0There are countless documented succession conflicts involving persons from the same ethnic group, clan or extended family among the Wala, the Gonja and what have you.<\/p>\n There is this inter-ethnic conflict between the Mamprusi and the Kusasi in Bawku. We are still counting the cost and not forgetting the dispute between the Nawuri and the Gonja about who has sovereignty over Kpandai.<\/p>\n In 1981 there were inter-ethnic conflicts between the Nanumba and the Konkomba and the life lost was unimaginable.<\/p>\n We are yet to forget the so-called \u201cguinea fowl war\u201d of 1995 between the Konkomba, Nawuri, Nchumuru, and Basare on the one hand, and the Dagomba, Nanumba, and Gonja on the other. Some of us had a ring-side view of this war and can confirm how violent this war was.<\/p>\n Several studies have analysed conflicts in Northern Ghana and the unforgivable role politicians like you, Mark Woyongo have played in exploiting this just to satisfy their selfish interest while these conflicts unfold. We sincerely want to believe that you meant no harm by your \u2018violence begets violence\u2019 utterance. We however are struggling to justify our belief given that you haven\u2019t as yet demonstrated any remorse whatsoever.<\/p>\n Reality Check<\/strong><\/p>\n It has come to our notice, sadly though, that you tried the other day to compare your \u2018violence begets violence\u2019 statement to Nana Addo\u2019s statement which he has since regretted for having said it. How could you think of this comparison? Well, time for reality check has dawn and we want you to be sincere; kindly conduct \u00a0a cursory check at Bimbilla and tell us the number of souls lost within 24 hours of your careless talk. Again, in all sincerity, tell us the number of souls lost since Nana Addo made his statement about 3 years ago.<\/p>\n Whenever knew your sense of comparison is acute as well. Our dear brother, you have no shame and that is bad, to say the least. \u00a0How did you miss the fact that the whole world is aware that Nana Addo is a Man of peace and you, Mark \u2018Boko\u2019 Wayongo (by extension Mahama) are the opposite? \u00a0The bitter truth is that, your statement was in a bad taste and the already volatile Bimbilla has heeded to your advice. Please dance to the tune you have called, Mr. Interior Minister. Please tell the Bimbilla people something fatherly because we believe other areas in the North could be preparing to act in line with your war drums.<\/p>\n Mr Woyongo, judging from the misguided statement you are reported to have made, we are convinced that you don\u2019t seem to understand the requirements of the office you are occupying. Moreover, statements you have made after your horrible gaffe have further demonstrated your naivety in managing the security of our nation especially at a time when there is general despondency in Ghana due to massive unemployment and corruption. It is clear that, you are trying to rationalise your irresponsible statement by suggesting it was a biblical statement (\u2018an eye for an eye\u2019) and that you were taken out of context.<\/p>\n Many shameless public officials blame the scripture for their irresponsibility. Jesus Christ is quoted in Matthew 5:38- 39 as saying: \u2018You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth\u2026But I tell you: Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. It is unfortunate our dear brother conveniently chose the citation that depicts his personality and his line of thinking.<\/p>\n Either way you try to spin through it; whether biblical or taken out of context, it is still irresponsible and the least you could do was to apologise and resigned honourably. Otherwise, we risk witnessing violence-filled election 2016 due to your violent posture. Honourable Brother, Minister of Interior, you will not survive what you are about to begin. Don\u2019t be a terrorist. Think development. Think about one Ghana. We share a lot in common. You are invited to Nasara NPP.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: Nasara NPP UK<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Interior Minister, Mark Owen Woyongo is reported as saying, \u2018\u2026I\u2019m aware there were a few isolated clashes and it is across the political divide; it wasn\u2019t just on one [side]. NPP people were attacked; NDC people were also attacked so it cut across the political divide.\u201d He said, \u201cViolence begets violence\u201d; the Azorka Boys […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":61329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[8],"yoast_head":"\n