- Insist on restructuring of security architecture
- Warns that Nigeria may cease to exist
Some elders in the South West have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take proactive steps to salvage the country from the rising spate of insecurity.
They warned in a statement that Nigeria may soon cease to exist unless proactive steps is taken.
Speaking under the aegis of Coalition of Oduduwa Elders (COE), they also called for appointment of fresh hands as service chiefs.
Their position came following the tension being generated across the country occasioned by violent attacks and burning of houses and cars in Oyo State.
They also warned that if action was not taken to stem the tide, Nigeria was likely going to witness another civil war, which has the potential of threatening her existence.
The statement signed by their National Coordinator, Dr. Tunde Aremu, said that alleged suspected terrorist elements – in the mould of foreign herders – were infiltrating the South West without molestation.
They accused the Armed Forces of failing in its primary duty of defending the nation’s territorial integrity against external aggression.
Specifically, the coalition maintained that the Yorubas have the inalienable right to raise concerns about the failure of government to protect them and their communities against armed men.
The Oduduwa elders have, however, sued for peaceful co-existence between the Yorubas as well as residents, saying violence remained antithetical to meaningful development.
The statement read in part: “As stakeholders in Yoruba land and the Nigerian project as a whole, we have watched with keen interest the unfolding events in the country, especially as they relate ro the South West region, and we wish to advise Mr president to urgently take steps that will restore public confidence in the nation.
“We say this with all sense of responsibility, as our investigations show that failure to take action on the part of Mr. President may well be an invitation to another civil war, the end of which we cannot predict.
“Our country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder, a time bomb if you like, and if nothing is done urgently, we may face another civil unrest, as the citizens are tired of the actions and inactions of the president in the area of security of lives and property. This has to change now before it is too late.
“We dare say that the challenges faced by Nigerians currently, are a fallout of government’s failure to secure communities, and there is an urgent need for immediate and total restructuring of the entire security architecture of the country.
“We mince no words in saying that restructuring must begin with the sack of the country’s Services Chiefs, and replacement with young and more competent officers”.
Commenting on the recent crisis in Oyo State, the elders said “We spoke against the violent attacks of some Fulaniis in the South West yesterday, because it is irresponsible to criminalise people on the basis of their tribe or religion.
“However, the people of South West and every religion breaking under the weight of insecurity in Nigeria, have genuine rights to complain”.
They said this is “because of the total collapse of security due to the docility of the current Service Chiefs” who, “instead of focusing on protecting the country’s territorial integrity, are busy pursuing tenure elongation”.
They alleged further “Foreigners enter into our land and kill our citizens at will. In the South West, people can neither travel freely, or even access their farms owing to the presence of foreign terrorists.
“It is, however, curious that even after admitting so-called foreign terrorists are responsible for the attacks in Nigeria, the Service Chiefs are still unable to arrest this urgly situation.”
