Revamp your security apparatus, CSO tells Buhari
A coalition of the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) under the aegis of Situation Room has asked President Muhammad Buhari to restructure and revamp his security apparatus to make them proactive and reflect the federal character.
This was coming 24 hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused President Buhari of nepotism, incompetence and lack if understanding of internal policies.
The CSOs expressed grave concern about the level of insecurity, kidnappings, killings and unrestrained crime that has remained unabated, calling on Buhari to ensure that leadership of security agencies have clear understanding of modern security operations.
In a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the leader of the group, Clement Nwankwo who is also the Chief Executive of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) expressed worry that the country has degenerated into a state of chaos, saying that government has shown incapacity to confront the challenges and provide security for the people.
He said, “Citizens are seriously losing faith in the inability of security agencies to protect their lives and secure their properties. Never before has the effectiveness and competence of our security agencies been questioned this much as we have today.
“Beside the incapacity and incompetence of the security services, is the other major concern that the security have failed to apply evenness, balance or fairness in the manner in which they carry out their work.”
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The CSOs also pointed out the incessant violation of human rights of citizens by security and other agencies of government including violations of Rule of Law and Due process.
They equally decried the high level of unemployment, poor performance of the economy and high incompetence among appointed public officials.
The Situation Room affirmed its resolve to monitor the upcoming 2019 general elections while urging the National Assembly (NASS) to ensure timely amendment to the Constitutional and legal framework for the conduct of the 2019/elections.
They described the recent attempt by NASS to tinker with the election timetable as unnecessary infringement on the powers of INEC.
Situation Room is a coalition of several Civil Society Organisations including Action Aid Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation, Alliance for Credible Election, CISLAC and others.
Myke Uzendu, Abuja
