George Onah
9 October 2001
Calabar, Cross River — Members of the Cross River State House of Assembly and a cross section of the people of the state have expressed wide-spread support for the American air strikes in Afghanistan, describing the development as "adequate response to terrorism."
But the only Muslim member of the House, Alhaji Mikhail Asuquo, Akamkpa II, condemned the attack as unfair, stating that innocent people will be killed, maimed or injured" in the vindictive attacks."
However, Majority Leader in the House, Mr. Emmanuel Egbe Idaka, said "the attacks are perfectly in order because there is nothing practically wrong with it," adding that, the Americans should however restrict the "war" to military and terrorist targets.
Idaka explained that, "though the attacks are coming a little late, those who perpetrated such heinous and murderous crime should not have a hiding place," adding that, "terrorists must not be spared."
Speaking exclusively to Vanguard and in the same vein, former majority leader, Mr. Bassey Ewa, Yakurr I, said, he would "even volunteer to fight for America, because what happened on September 11, 2001 in the US was not only disgusting but totally condemnable."
"What Osama bin Laden and his Al Qedaa outfit did was intended mainly to destabilise peace on earth. Those attacks on September 11, were attacks on the world because if they wanted to attack the Americans alone they should not have attacked the World Trade Centre, a place which houses the world" Ewa said.
He reasoned that, the attacks of the Americans in Afghanistan should be seen and viewed as a right to existence and not considered a religious fight between Christians and Muslims, adding that, even Muslims were killed in the World Trade Centre.
Ewa said the Americans were after Osama bin Laden and his group of blind followers, stating that, enough time was given to the Talibans to handover the fugitive for trial, adding that, "almost one month given to the Afghanistans to hand him over was enough time to produce him."
"If I have my way I would go and fight in America, the Americans have exercised enough restraint to show peace in the world, the attack on Afghanistan is justified and I hail them for taking the action because it will check further terrorists actions and their sponsors wherever they may be" he said.
However, the Muslim legislator in the House, Alhaji Mikail Asuquo said Osama bin Laden was a product of the Americans "whom they have used variously to destabilise some countries of the world, adding that, he (Osama) has only become a monster trying to tame its master."
Asuquo named Russia as one of the countries which Osama bin Laden was used to fight when that country fought against the Talibans in Afghanistan, adding that, the man had become idle so he had to find a job for himself by attacking those who made him.
He argued that, there was no "concrete evidence to trap Osama bin Laden," explaining that, the concept of justice states that, a man can only be punished when found guilty of an offence, adding that, "killing must be just."
According to him, the Americans "do have the means, wherewithal and technology to search and arrest bin Laden without having to attack or use force to arrest him," stating that "it may not be easy to get bin Laden as the situation stands."
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