By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
Northern Elders have commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III for baring his mind on the state of perceived insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria.
The group said Abubakar’s statement has vindicated its position on the worsening insecurity situation in the north and the need for the Federal Government to act strategically and salvage the situation.
Recall that the Sultan, in the quarterly meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja on Friday said the activities of bandits has made the region unsafe.
“Security situation in northern Nigeria has assumed a worrisome situation. People think North is safe, but that assumption is not true. In fact, it’s the worst place to be in this country.
“Because bandits go around in the villages, households and markets with their AK 47 and nobody is changing them,” Sultan said at the forum.
Corroborating the statement of Sultan, the National Coordinator of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CONEPD), Engr. Zana Goni and National Women Leader, Hajia Mario Bichi in a statement said the utterances of the monarch did not only reflect the true situation of things but has also absolved them of allegations of unnecessarily castigating Government of insecurity in the North.
The group appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to heed the advice of most Nigerians by overhauling the security architecture and addressing the issues of bandits in the North.
The statement reads: “We most respectfully commend the Sultan of Sokoto, our father, for stating the true position of things in the North, as it concerns insecurity.
The group said: “We had said it over and over again, that the state of insecurity had reached a point where our farmers can hardly access their farms, even as travelers on busy highways can no longer guarantee their safe arrival without being kidnapped.
“Our mothers, fathers, and children are now at the mercy of terrorists and bandits, who kill, harass and destroy property without being confronted, in many instances, by our security operatives.
“As patriotic elders, we think the position of the Sultan is a Clarion call to our dear President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, to restructure the security architecture in the country without further delay.
“We applaud our President for ensuring huge budgetary allocation to the military and security sectors, thereby demonstrating his interest in securing lives and property.
“We, however, regret that our Security Chiefs have not shown commensurate commitment in tackling these security challenges, owing to what we see as lethargy and spent ideas…”
