By Charles Igbo
Frustrated, shocked, afraid and, embarrassed by the level of insecurity in the country, the Senate Committee Chairman on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to learn a few lessons from former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, popular as IBB.
Insecurity has, in the past two years, and especially in the past three months, alarmingly, escalated to an almost unbearable level.
Ndume, a native of Borno state, speaking on a national television, monitored in Lagos, Sunday, told President Buhari that the time has come for him to give his all, and face the insecurity ravaging the country squarely.
Buhari had, recently, said he was surprised at the level of insecurity in the country, a remark that sparked outrage across the country.
But expressing shock at the situation, Ndume told the President: “Nigeria is at war. Take definite actions. The insecurity has gone beyond Boko Haram”.
He alerted Nigerians that the war has spread to all parts of Nigeria.
Ndume: Nigerians think it is only Borno State that is at war, and the armed forces. That is not the case. Nigerians are supposed to know that we are in a state of war”
Remembering the IBB days, the Senatir advised Buhari to emulate him, and confront his Service Chiefs on the worsening insecurity situation.
What to do?
Ndume: If I were the President, I will.call the Service Chiefs and tell them that they have heard and seen what is going on; that Nigerians are not happy because the situation is getting bad. I am giving you the last chance. What do you need, and when are you going to get this business done?”
How?
Ndume: “For instance, when the notorious armed robber, Anini, was terrorising the old Bendel state, and the Inspector General of Police was in a meeting with former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, Babangida asked what he was doing at the meeting. He ordered the Police boss to go and get Anini and, after two days or so, they got him.
“This is the kind of action I am expecting from President Buhari. He is in a better position. He is a military man, experienced, and he gets information. He should be able to make up his mind and take a decision in this.”
The worsening security situation in the country has triggered an unprecedented protest from different segments of Nigerians, climaxing, last Sunday, with the prayer-protest walk embarked upon by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
For the first time since the Buhari government, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, joined in the protest.
Before now, he had maintained a studied silence on the killings in the country, to consternation of some people.
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is a Pastor of the RCCG.
In response to the protest by CAN, President Buhari, on Tuesday, told world, in an article, that more Muslims, than Christians have been killed by the Boko Haram sect.
Mr President: “90 per cent of those killed by Boko Haram are Muslims”.
