By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Worried by the spate of insecurity in the country, the Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere on Thursday, lamented that governments in Nigeria have failed in their primary duties of providing security and welfare for the people”.
Afenifere raised the alarm in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi made available to journalists in Ibadan.
It stressed that the level of insecurity in Nigeria is becoming worrisome and that there is the need to allow States and local government councils legally have their own security agencies to tackle the insecurity.
Afenifere maintained that the time has come that doctrine of necessity be invoked so that the aspect of the Constitution that makes the handling of security in the country almost exclusive to the federal government would be relaxed.
” The kidnapping of seven people around Isara Remo on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on Sunday, January 17, 2022, was another evidence that governments in Nigeria have failed in their primary duties of providing security and welfare for the people”it said
Afenifere added, ” this is the time that States and local government councils must be legally allowed to have their own security agencies. Such States and local government security agencies must be fully equipped and be allowed to have the powers to investigate and prosecute accordingly”.
The Pan Yoruba Socio political organisation noted, “we recall the incessant kidnapping of, and attacks on, innocent people in Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States. We also recall the sacking of certain villages in Imeko area of Ogun State last week. These are unacceptable and must be stopped forthwith by all means.”
” The lamentations by Governors of Niger, Zamfara, Benue, Nassarawa, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina States on how terrorists seem to be dictating the pace in their areas ought to serve as a wake-up call for the governments and the security agencies. Unfortunately, responses to the lamentations have not shown that the federal authorities appreciate the enormity of the challenge”.
Afenifere stated, ” this clearly shows that the appropriate panacea is not being applied to the scourge. And until this is done, the situation may be getting worse each passing day”, saying, ” no matter the stride President Buhari makes on the Nigeria project, the worsening security and economic conditions in the country would rubbish his efforts and ultimate achievements.”
” It is therefore incumbent on the President to allow State Police, strengthen the military with equipment and right motivation, prevail on the Attorney General to allow rule of law to operate without fear or favour, stop nepostic justice, enable the military to mop-up too much weapons in the hands of unauthorised persons and promptly convene a meeting of ethnic nationalities and interest groups. Such a meeting should be to return the country to a true . In the above suggestions lie the solutions to the security and economic problems Nigeria is facing presently.”
