Insecurity: Engage key leaders for national dialogue now, Clerics tasks FG

*Says, injustice, distribution of national resources responsible for deteriorating insecurity

Some clerics in the country have called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency engage key leaders for national dialogue on deteriorating insecurity challenges and come out with workable solutions that will help in curbing the menace.

In a statement jointly signed by their National Coordinator, Sheik Mohammed Adamu and National Secretary, Mallam Ibrahim Bala Nasarawa, the clerics identified injustice, lack of equity to appointments and distribution of national resources to all regions of the country as some of the factors contributing to the rising insecurity.

According to the religious leaders operating under the aegis of Conference of Concerned Islamic Clerics, the need for dialogue has become necessary hence, it is the only platform where Nigerians will be able to state what their grievances are.

While calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to write his name in gold by correcting the anomalies, the clerics also urged him to immediately address the issue of injustice and lack of equity in the distribution of appointments especially against the Igbo people of South East in his government.

“We are lovers and supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and we will continue to be. We will be doing the president and his All Progressives Congress, APC Government in particular and the country in general a great disservice if we keep quiet while our country continues to burn.

‘’All these security problems in Nigeria today and the new threats we have in the country today have both spiritual and physical causes that must be tackled from the same fronts.

“We are a group of Islamic clerics drawn from all parts of the country and met in Kano State to deliberate on the state of the nation, especially the state of insecurity that has ravaged the North and other parts of the country.

“Against the backdrop of the deteriorating insecurity in the country, occasioned by activities of terrorists, insurgents, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and secessionist agitations springing from different parts of the country, we are gathered here to add our voice to the growing concerns by Nigerians on these, and to most especially offer our own spiritual advice on the way forward.

“While the federal government may not take our position seriously because of its usual I-don’t-care-attitude, we will still offer our advice as we view it as a quickest way to get out of the carnage staring us in the face.

“We are lovers and supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and we will continue to be. However we will be doing the president and his All Progressives Congress, APC Government in particular and the country in general a great disservice if we keep quiet while our country continues to burn.

“First, we wish to state that all these security problems in Nigeria today and the new threat we have in the country today have both spiritual and physical causes that must be tackled from the same fronts.

“We will not hesitate to state that the security problem today was caused by failures of governments at all levels.

“Besides, the lack of justice and equity to all regions across the country no doubt, fueled the problem. We strongly believe that if immediate attention is giving to our suggestions, Nigeria will be peaceful again’’, the clerics stated.

They further enjoin authorities to engage key religious leaders across the country and appeal to them to preach messages of peace, hope and one Nigeria in their various places of worship.