Northern Elders decry worsening insecurity, call for third force

PHILIP CLEMENT, ABUJA

Northern elders under the aegis of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) have decried the worsening insecurity in the country which has led to loss of lives and properties in virtually every region of the country.

According to NEF, in spite claims by the administration to the contrary, Boko Haram insurgency continues to be a major threat in the North East, while kidnapping and large scale banditry in many other parts of the North are taking over lives of large portions of the population.

In a statement by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, NEF asserted that IPOB is also gradually threatening to eradicate the influence of legitimate authority in the South East while politicians and influential people are worsening the nation’s fault lines by the manner they seek political advantages through the exploitation of threats to unity and peaceful co-existence.

The statement reads in part: “The Forum regrets that arguments over labelling bandits as terrorists wastes attention and energy. If labeling bandits as terrorists will substantially improve the capacity of the Nigerian state to eliminate this expanding scourge, the Forum supports it without reservation. In any case, all lawful options in bringing this menace to an end must be pursued.

“Measures put in place to contain its spread should be diligently monitored and evaluated, and those that merely worsen the condition of living of law-abiding population should be removed.

Governments should be sensitive to the possibility of severe food shortage in the next few months in many Northern communities, in addition to escalating cost of living which will combine to confront the poor with intolerable conditions of living.

“Activities of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) represent an unacceptable threat to security and rights of fellow Nigerians in the States of the South East region, and the country as a whole.

Its damage to the economy of the South East is already registered as a major disaster. IPOB’s plans to frustrate the Governorship election in Anambra State this weekend must be resisted.

The on-going trial of its leader should proceed in accordance with the laws of the land, and elites from the region who demand that he is accorded special treatment in return for peace should know that they are merely inviting more threats on the people they should help to protect”.

NEF believes that it is time for third force to emerge and oust the two parties of the PDP and the APC which has not fully delivered dividends of democracy.

“The Forum notes that PDP and APC dominate the political landscape. It further notes that Nigerians will benefit from additional options, both to improve competition and to broaden the leadership selection process.

The Forum looks forward to the emergence and consolidation of other parties in the political environment. The continued existence of State electoral commissions which conduct elections into Local Government Councils is severely damaging the democratic process.

“The Forum notes that opportunities exist for Nigerians to register to vote in the 2023 elections.

Apathy, anger and frustrations arising from failure of elected leaders to improve lives of citizens and insecurity are keeping many Nigerians from their rights and obligations to register and vote.

The Forum urges Northerners to register and prepare to vote for new and more competent and honest leaders in the 2023 elections,” it added.