Insecurity: Nigeria require urgent, drastic measure to win fight –Elders

*Says, Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb

Some elders in the country have again raised alarm over the worsening insecurity in the country saying, urgent and drastic measures should be adopted to overcome the situation.

The elders operating under the aegis of Nigeria Elders in a statement on Wednesday said, they were worried over the dangerous wave of violence blowing round the country adding that the situation must not be allowed to fester on.

While warning that Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb that would soon explode if nothing is done, the elders decried the non adherence to the country’s federal character principles in appointments into key positions.

They expressed worry over neglect of the South East Geopolitical Zone in appointments especially in the country’s security sector adding that the drafters of the Constitution did not make mistakes in making such provision.

They further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to review his policy with a view to correcting the anomaly stressing the need for the federal government to immediately convene national dialogue with a view to discussing the fault lines, leading the country to its present predicaments.

Besides, the group tasked authorities to immediately begin engagement of youths in peace advocacy meetings where issues promoting peaceful and harmonious living devoid of religious, tribal or regional inclinations were made the focal points.

The statement was signed by Dr Balarabe Usman Wudil,for North West, Engr Zana Goni for North East. Prof Ambrose Terngu for North Central, Prof. Finebone Tamuno,for South South, Dr Ayo Bankole,for South West and Prof. Chika Madumere for South East, respectively.

“We are a group of elders from the six geopolitical zones of the country that have worked at different high levels of our chosen careers. We are worried at the current state of security situation in the country.

‘’It is regrettable that the development which had come like a child’s play some few years ago has assumed the current dimension. As a country,we are currently sitting on a time bomb and we wish to sound alarm that if nothing urgent is done to arrest this ugly situation, we will be consumed.

“We are alarmed by the dangerous wave of violence blowing round the country, this must not be allowed to fester on given that it does no one any good’’, the group stated.

They also revealed that the strategies adopted so far by the government in tackling insecurity in the country seemed to have little or no positive results and urged the federal administration which it said, was vested with the security of citizens, to adopt what it referred to as working strategies in handling the protracted insecurity.

The group also called on the government to constantly review security architecture, saying continuous restructuring of the security architecture was needed to get needed results.

“We are concerned about blatant disregard to the federal character principles in appointments into key positions in the country. We task President Muhammadu Buhari to reflect over this and put things in their right places as the drafters of our constitution did not make any mistake in making the provision.

“Appointments into key positions should be evenly spread devoid of religious, ethnic and regional considerations. This will help promote national unity which our founding fathers worked tirelessly for.

“Appointments, particularly into key positions in the security sector must be on merit besides regional consideration to give every section of the country a sense of belonging.

The insecurity building up as a result of cry for injustice and the quest for self-rule can be greatly tackled through this hence we are by this calling on Mr President,Muhammadu Buhari to review his governing strategies with a view to getting needed and expected results.

“The federal government under the leadership of our dear president, friend and brother, President Muhammadu Buhari, must address the issues of injustice in appointments into key sectors especially people of the South East of the country and address the issues of security in all part of the country,” it said.