By Rapheal Izokpu
Concerned Northern elders have lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to his Service Chiefs, to “secure Nigeria”, through the deployment of all available military assets.
This is as the elders expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the country, saying the situation must be addressed urgently, to sustain the nation’s sovereignty.
They further expressed dismay that suspected bandits, kidnappers, insurgents, militia men, armed robbers as well as other criminal elements have continued to carry on their activities with ease.
The elders in a statement said the seeming free reign with which the enemies of the state operate, may have created an impression in many quarters of failure of intelligence, which is the bedrock of national security and safety.
They therefore urged the government to ensure sanity was returned to all parts of the country.
Operating under the aegis of North East Elders for Peace and Development (NEEPD), the statement by their National Coordinator, Engr. Zana Goni, said no economic and sustainable development could thrive in the face of mounting insecurity.
While drawing parallels with the events in such African countries as Mali, Algeria, Western Sahara, Somalia, Sudan and others, the patriots called for responsible and responsive leadership, to end the cycle of blood-letting across parts of the country.
According to the statement “Nigerians of Goodwill will support our condemnation of the growing spate of insecurity across parts of the country, more so that they are witnesses to the ugly development, which has, by all means, impacted negatively on the socio-economic lives of the citizenry.
The group, nonetheless, expressed the hope that Friday’s directive, coming at the time it did, may have a turn-around effect on the deplorable situation, which had led to the country’s third-place rating on the global terrorism index.
The Northern elders called out those that had sold the dummy that President Buhari was not in charge of affairs of the country, cautioning that his appearance over the weekend, should naturally put an end to the conspiracy theory.
“As elders that want to be on the positive side of history, we condemn, without equivocation, the growing, appalling security situation besetting our dear country, Nigeria.
“No doubt, these avoidable security challenges, attended by kidnapping, banditry, insurgency/terrorism, armed robbery and the like, expose our country to vulnerability.
“In the face of this, however, we are consoled by Mr. President’s outing over the weekend which, to all intents and purposes, was not only firm and affirmative, but enough to douse tension, which was reaching a crescendo.
“To us at NEEPD, what our amiable President did,was to show that ‘I’m in charge’, regardless of whatever conspiracy theorist say.
“Lastly, we call on Mr. President to, as a matter of urgent national importance and priority, cause a review to the appointment of Service Chiefs, in obedience to the federal character principle; a mandatory constitutional provision to reflect the south East officers.
“This we believe will further unite the country and reverse the negative impression about the administration.”
