JOINING TO DEFEAT INSECURITY:
POLITICAL PARTIES YET TO RESPOND TO PRESIDENTS CALL?
…“Let’s join hands to defeat insecurity, Buhari tells parties’ leaders.”
Yusuf Yabagi, Coordinator, IPAC( Inter/ Party Advisory Council) preparing to give the President an award as ‘‘Hero of Democracy’’.
Agency Report By Charles Edet
President Muhammadu Buhari
Recently towards the tail end of April 2022, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that President Muhammadu Buhari urged the 18 political parties in the country to keep elections and election-related differences aside and join the administration’s drive to defeat insecurity in the country.
Before proceeding with the news, National Detective Magazine, curiously went into town to find out what the political parties are doing to support the presidential call, that “political parties to set
aside their differences and join hands with his administration’s drive to defeat insecurity in the country”
National Detective Magazine’s findings revealed that instead of pondering over the seriousness of the problem before the country, some opposition parties were busy throwing banters at the ruling party, by requesting Nigerians to elect their party in 2023 , so that solutions to all issues related to insecurity will be over.
Also in the manifestos of almost all the presidential candidates, conspicuously in having solutions to insecurity, without opening up such solutions for national interest, security and safety of the people.
The lives of Nigerians are now political bait to securing an electoral mandate. It is shameful that gluttony, political sycophancy, insensitivity to the President’s request was erroneously construed to be resolved by Awarding him with “Hero Of Democracy” from supposedly opposition parties that were asked to come and join in addressing insecurity.
Meanwhile, the only Political Party that responded positively and meaningfully to the President’s Call was a former Aspirant of the Labour Party, Hon. Sampson Uchenna Charles, who applauded the President’s call for political parties to join hands with his government to stop the growing threat of insecurity. Hon Charles now concentrating on his NGO New Nigerian Movement, suggested then that one of the uppermost solutions is by Job creation, and seeking international support militarily to comb the forests in tactical operations that will help to dismantle all acts of Criminality against the state .
The former Labour Party Aspirant in furtherance, averred that the Nigerian Armed forces, police and Department of State Security (DSS) and others should be well equipped with hyper Millennium caliber of arms and ammunition to overpower the criminals troubling Nigeria.
He said, “ that indeed he was ready to join the government on issues of national interest such as demanded by the President for the sake of the people” . Hon. Sampson, regretted that APC have failed in its promises to usher in peace and security in the nation.
In continuation with the agency report, before the interview with Hon. Sampson Charles, Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari’s spokesman said in a statement that the president made the call at an Iftar dinner with members of the business community and the leadership of political parties in Abuja.
The presidential aide quoted the president as describing insecurity as a ‘‘common enemy’’ bedeviling the country.
The president said: ‘‘Without mass, popular support to our hard working Armed Forces, it will take us much longer to finish off the successful war we are waging against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
”Our country must be kept safe for progress and prosperity to be entrenched.
‘‘I look forward to seeing the reflection of this spirit in the relationship between the parties and the government, especially as the electioneering season will soon be on us.”
Buhari recounted that the National Executive Committee ( NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had a tremendous success at its meeting, ending with a clear message that the party would continue to push for the establishment of democratic principles at all levels.
‘‘Today, we can proudly say that we have a political system that allows political parties of all views and persuasions, reflecting the diversity of our nation to co-exist, and contest for elections at all levels of government without fear or institutional bias and pressure’’.
On ease of doing business in the country, President Buhari revealed that his administration had done exceedingly well in improving the business climate.
He, therefore, urged the private sector to complement the government’s effort in poverty reduction and job creation for the young people.
‘‘No administration has done as much as we have done in the creation of a climate best suited for business, big and small, to thrive.
‘‘The ease of doing business index that is globally recognized has acknowledged that the ease with which business is carried out in the country has never been better than it is today. We will continue to make it better.
‘‘We will equally continue to count on the support of the private sector to improve economic growth and create new job opportunities for our teeming population.
‘‘Employment is critical to the stability and prosperity of our country. Government and the private sector, working together, have an opportunity to transform the lives of people in ways that was hard to imagine in the past,’’ he said.
The National Chairman of the APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who spoke at the event, urged leaders of political parties to make firm commitments towards peaceful and successful 2023 general elections, and challenged them to work in unison to achieve the purpose.
According to him, as leaders, leadership demands that they take responsibility in ensuring peace and stability and inspiring the party faithful and Nigerians to conform to the laws of land in matters relating to electioneering and the elections.
Speaking on behalf of leaders of other political parties, Yusuf Yabagi, the Chairman of Action Democratic Party (ADP), who described the President as a true democrat, said the invitation by the President has introduced ‘‘credibility, respect and admiration in the polity’’.
Yabagi, who is also the Coordinator Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said:
‘‘The fact that political leaders of various political parties are sitting with you today speaks volumes that you are truly a democrat and believe in the project of growing democracy in this country,’’ he said.
He announced that IPAC was preparing to give the president an award as ‘‘Hero of Democracy’’, citing the historic signing into law of the Electoral Act, describing it as a paradigm shift that would guarantee peaceful, acceptable and all-inclusive elections in the country.
On the forthcoming elections, Yabagi said:
‘‘Mr President, history beckons on you. 2023 is going to be your glorious exit. That is our prayer and for that to happen you have to take charge of every activity that matter in the exercise’’.
The IPAC Coordinator, who commended INEC for innovation and reforms towards ensuring credible elections, appealed to the president to look into the role of security agencies in the forthcoming general elections.
‘‘Members of IPAC are worried by the programme of INEC that elected candidates will spend 10 months campaigning around the country. That is a herculean task.
‘‘We also want the President to consider the appointment of a Political Liaison Officer,’’ Yabagi said. He noted that the office would ensure better coordination between the President’s office and political parties.
Commenting on the type of leader Nigeria needs after President Buhari, a representative of the business community and Group Managing Director, Sahara Group, Kola Adesina, said the next President of Nigeria must carry ‘‘the banner of hope for a new Nigeria , not a banner of self.’’
‘‘We are transitioning and I want to respectfully ask the President that anybody who comes around to show interest in leadership, you must ask them for their manifesto. Not what they want to do but how they want to do it.
‘‘The challenge has always been how, not what,’’ he said.
Adesina, who thanked the president for sustaining investments in infrastructure across the country, including the Second Niger Bridge, the East-West Road, among others, stressed the need for continuity by the next government.