By Akinwale Kasali
A Northern Group under the auspices of Katsina State Elders Forum, KSEF, has bemoaned the rise in insecurity, economic woes in the country, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender LGBT policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led- Federal Government.
The Group said it was grievously concerned about the manner the FG has been handling the aforementioned, and criticised the Federal Government’s lacklustre response to the unending threats from bandits. The Group lamented the persistent threats to life across 12 Local Governments in the State.
KSEF Secretary, Malam Aliyu Mohammed, at a Media briefing, detailed the severe challenges facing Katsina State, and called for urgent Federal intervention.
In the statement, Mohammed said, “We have tried as much as possible and have complained severally to the Federal Government to complement what the State Government is doing to protect lives and property in our dear State. The Federal Government has not lived up to expectations. These hoodlums keep on killing our people, burning their properties, claiming their farms, and destroying their houses.”
KSEF lamented the dire situation, and expressed concerns over the safety of residents and travellers in the State. He, also, questioned the inaction of the two Ministers of Defence who are from the North.
“If you are travelling, you are not sure of coming back. If you leave home, you are not sure of coming back to meet your people safe. And it is really unfortunate that the so-called Defence Ministers are from the North. We don’t know what they are doing. They have not done enough to protect the North. And it is unfortunate that these killers are only in this part of the country. We are really disturbed.
“They have killed hundreds of people in Katsina. No body, none of the ministers or the president deemed it fit to come and condole the people of Katsina State and provide some succour to cushion the impact on the victims. That’s why you see a lot of beggars everywhere. This is as a result of this banditry.
“The Katsina State Governor has done his best. He floated the Security Watch Corps and they are doing their best. But unfortunately, the community corps are not allowed to handle sophisticated weapons like the bandits. The soldiers are not helping matters. So, we don’t know where the problem is. We are yet to understand the problem. What is happening? Who is behind this banditry? The Federal Government has to explain why our soldiers can go elsewhere in other countries and perform miracles, and restore peace, but not in the northern part of the country?
“We are calling on the Federal Government to come up with immediate measures. Let them introduce jungle battalions. Put these soldiers in the forest, let them remain there and fight the bandits. The bandits are known and they also know where they are. We are calling on Mr President to please save the North, for goodness sake. Save Katsina State,”
The Group further expressed strong reservations and disapproval over the alleged recent federal actions concerning LGBT rights purportedly signed by the Budget Minister.
Reacting, the forum said Katsina State vehemently objects to this arrangement because we are 98 percent Muslims. Even Christianity is against this same-sex marriage. We are begging Mr President to reverse this decision with immediate effect. Nigerians are not happy and everybody is crying.” The Government has strongly denied any such action.
On the severe poverty ravaging the Northern Region, Mohammed painted a bleak picture of widespread hunger and economic distress, and attributed it to the Federal Government’s alleged failure to provide basic necessities.
“Our people are very poor. There is hunger and abject poverty in our region. Everywhere you go, you see people begging because they don’t have what to eat,” he said.
He urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to tackle these issues and consider appointing more effective Advisers.
