By Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA—A member of the House of Representatives, Kyari Kaka Gujbawu, yesterday commended the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, for employing over 2,000 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force,JTF, to help combat insurgency in the state.
Gujbawu,PDP, Maiduguri metropolis, who made the commendation in a chat with journalists, described the youths as the true heroes of Nigeria who deserved national honours for fighting for their father land.

Also, the Borno lawmaker wanted a Marshal Plan to rehabilitate the region from the ravages of Boko Haram insurgency.
He said:  “ I want to commend our governor for engaging these youths who use cutlases and horse whips to chase armed Boko Haram members.

“It is a show of gallantry that cannot be waved aside by any Nigerian leader, they all deserve encouragement including those that paid the supreme price.  Governor Shettima has shown that he is a true leader that has a genuine feeling for his people.
“I salute his courage for doing this and also thank President Goodluck Jonathan for all the support he has given to us in this our trying times.

“However,  Our people are in a dire need of a lot  more  of support. Our economy is in shambles, our social life has been disorganised, and our psyche traumatised.

“The fact remains that the whole of the north east as I always emphasise requires a marshal plan or do I say the “GEJ Plan.” He explained that “barely two weeks ago, former President Ibrahim Babangida  attended a wedding ceremony in Maiduguri, a clear testimony that peace is gradually returning to my metropolis, Maiduguri and its environs.”

On Prof Attahiru Jega’s recent comment that election might not hold in the North East because of insurgency, Gujubawu said:  “ Do we want to expose the poor people simply because we want to remain in office?

“ I don’t want that to happen. As Mr. President, Goodluck Jonathan would always say, I don’t wish for a single drop of blood to be shed for me to remain in office, and I align myself with this political philosophy.

“I don’t wish a single blood of Borno indigene  or any person to be shed so that elections should be held for me to continue in office.
“But, certainly our ardent desire, and that’s what we all are working on, in collaboration with our governor, to ensure that Borno reclaims its enviable epithet of ‘Home of peace’; to ensure that elections are held in 2015 and our people’s voices are heard and choices made, without being disenfranchised.”