The Emir of Gazargamu of Yobe State, Alhaji Tijjani Saleh Gaidam, has found himself in the misdt of the storm created by wrong reporting.
A few weeks back, he requested that soldiers prevent and seize any bag of rice donated by the World Food Programme (WFP) for IDP residents of the town and other residents affected by the insurgency from being taken out of the town.
This should be the correct version of what His Royal Highness requested of the soldiers, not the malicious, fabricated and distorted one carried out as caption on the front page of Daily Trust of Monday, January 30, 2017.
Speaking to leadership in his palace at Gaidam Emirate, stressing that, there was no incidence of extortion through force or threat from anybody. As the rice could not get to everyone, everyone in Geidam who was affected was aggrieved and, naturally, blamed and insulted those who should know better.
The Emir’s request was premised on his meeting with World Food Programme (WPF) officials, where it was made clear that the foodstuff was only meant for residents of Geidam who suffered from the trauma of insurgency and not outsiders.
In the past, people turned up with fake cards, connived with some miscreants and looted hundreds bag of rice to other local government areas or states, where people with genuine cards were left with empty hands.
In addition, on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at the Yunusari distribution centre, over 400 bags of rice, 50 bags of beans and 80 cartons of vegetable oil were looted by hungry thieves. It was so embarrassing that the emir was left shame-faced. However, in the wake of that disgraceful occurrence, the emir was determined to prevent it from happening again; hence, his orer to the military men.
Again, on distribution day in Geidam, report was received that a plan was being hatched to whisk away bags of rice. The emir got the news and ordered the military men not to let it happen.
The military obeyed and, at the end, seized 46 bags of rice on its way out, which were later brought to the palace for redistribution.
Having seen the facts, it is clear that the word ‘extortion’ was carelessly used, tinted with malice.
It is insulting to say, as is being said, that the emir used our gallant military men to extort foodstuff. Why would he do that? It is very senseless. No soldier had extorted a single bag of Rice, but rather seized them from the looters as directed.
Contrary to the report in Daily Trust, the emir’s report was the correct version of what he said and there was no single IDP in Geidam town complained about his action, let alone accuse him. The IDPs who complained are those who reside outside Geidam (if they exist).
However, the above explanation was made to give a clear picture of what had transpired and which the Editor deliberately gave a malicious caption of the news to tarnish the image of the Emir, who is known by all as a Religious and God fearing Leader, whose policy is always to do justice and fairness in any of his deals.
Moreover” we cannot be surprised, because this is normal practice with some Nigerians papers, who write lies and blackmail others to create fake headlines, make hot lies only to sell their papers at the expense of ethics of their profession or be used through some subterranean influence to damage people’s image!
Funny that it came from Daily Trust, the ‘newspaper you can trust