…Drums support for legislation to back regional and state security outfit
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said has drummed support for establishment of security outfits that will complement the Nigerian Police and Army that have been overstretched, adding that self defense is International Human Rights, Guaranteed By Article 51 of the UN Charter.
He further challenged elders to speak out, stressing that there is so much insecurity on the land. He commended the efforts of the security personnel as well as those of Civilian Joint Task Force in the North East, who provided and continues to provide invaluable service to Nigeria and her peoples, at great cost to themselves, both in human lives and in productive hours.
In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday following the debate generated by the establishment of a security outfit named Amotekun by governors of South West, the Waziri Adamawa told leaders that It is easy to think that all is well when they are in secure State Houses, but the reality is that the security situation is far from fine for the average Nigerian citizen as there is too much inefficiency from the Federal Government, leading to wanton and unnecessary loss of lives.
He said, “To say that we do not need the services of those who are patriotic enough to voluntarily put their lives at risk to ensure the protection of the lives and property of Nigerians is to deny the obvious.
“I salute groups like the Civilian Joint Task Force in the North East, who provided and continue to provide an invaluable service to Nigeria and her peoples, at great cost to themselves, both in human lives and in productive hours, for which they are not well remunerated. Without their altruistic services, where would the war on terror be?
“I also acknowledge and appreciate the work that hunters and vigilantes have done and are still doing to help boost security in states scattered across Nigeria, including in the North East and Zamfara, Jigawa and Taraba states, to mention a few. Not a few Nigerians are able to sleep with two eyes closed, because of the action of these bodies of dedicated and gallant country men.
“Nigeria has crossed the rubicon and cannot go back. There is too much insecurity in the land and too much inefficiency from the Federal Government, leading to wanton and unnecessary loss of lives. It is easy to think that all is well when you are in secure State Houses, but the reality is that the security situation is far from fine for the average Nigerian citizen.
“In such circumstances, people have an inalienable God given right to self defense. This divine right, as long as it is limited to self defense, cannot be declared illegal by man”.
He challenged the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary to have the courage and acknowledge the bitter reality so as to realize that the people that have volunteered to provide the internal security, that the government has not been able to provide, need encouragement, and more importantly, a legal framework and central support to make their dream of preserving the dignity of human life a reality.
He stressed, “Internal security is not a call for secession and we must abandon the paranoia that makes us see it as such. All calls for secession must be quashed by the might of the Nigerian state, no exceptions! But on the matter of internal security as a means of self defense, I call on all and sundry to speak up”.
He said that no human power has the authority to criminalize the protection of human life. Atiku commended the efforts of the nation police, armed forces and paramilitary bodies that have shown great gallantry, patriotism and dedication to duty.
