Insecurity: Buhari Overwhelmed, Needs Help, Says Saraki

*Urges President to bring together his predecessors, past
and present National Assembly presiding officers, past and present
CJNs, serving and former heads of security agencies,
monarchs

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to seek help, wherever it can be given, to tackle
the worsening security situation, adding that the state of the
nation has gone beyond what the government can handle alone.

In a statement on Tuesday, Saraki told Buhari that seeking help
was not a sign of weakness.

The immediate past Senate President who premised his call on the
deteriorating security situation in the country

Listing the series of attacks on innocent citizens, schools,
communities and government institutions in recent days leading the
abduction and brutal killing of young scholars and spilling of
blood and destruction of property in several partsn of the country,
Saraki said this must not continue and could not be allowed to
become Nigeria’s new normal.

The statement reads: “Yesterday (Monday, April 26), Nigeria
experienced one of the saddest days in recent memory. All in one
day, from Anambra State to Kaduna, Yobe, Niger, and Lagos States,
critical insecurity issues were recorded and reported. Hour after
hour; breaking news after breaking news, we saw numerous
unacceptable reports of violence, kidnapping, terrorism, and the
systematic breakdown of law and order in many parts of the nation.
This should not be so.

“We read reports of Boko Haram hoisting up its flag in Niger
State, in Shiroro LGA that houses one of Nigeria’s largest power
stations — and is just about 200 kilometres from our federal
capital. We also read the statement of the Niger State governor,
where he expressed how helpless the government has become, and how
thousands of people have been displaced in his state. He also
lamented how the efforts of the federal government have not yielded
concrete results.

“We also received sad and disturbing reports that Mainok, a town
on the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway was invaded on Sunday by the
insurgents who unabashedly went on a killing spree — targeting our
brave soldiers and innocent civilians alike. Nine people were said
to have been killed by hoodlums that invaded Ukpomachi Village,
Awkuzu in Oyi LGA of Anambra State.

“In Kaduna State, two more innocent students that were kidnapped
from Greenfield University were killed by their abductors. While,
an unspecified number of students have now been abducted from the
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in Benue State. All in
one day. All within a 24-hour news cycle. This cannot continue.
This cannot become Nigeria’s new normal.

“Before giving my comment, I want to state that as we reel from
the multiple tragedies, my family and I will continue to pray for
all the affected families and communities. We will lend them our
full support as we all bind together to get past this difficult
time. May God grant them the fortitude and the strength that they
need to withstand this difficult and sad period.

“However, it is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari and the
All Progressives Congress (APC) government need help. They have
been overwhelmed by the situation and they sure need assistance
from all. Thus, I urge Mr. President to seek help wherever it can
be given. This matter has gone beyond what the government can
handle alone. The President should know that calling for help in
our present situation is not a sign of weakness.”

Recalling his advice to President Buhari in a previous letter,
Saraki said: “Just as I stated in my press statement on the same
issue on January 24, 2021, I want to reiterate that the President
needs to bring together all former Presidents and heads of state,
serving and former chief justices, serving and former presiding
officers of the National Assembly, serving and former heads of
security agencies, traditional rulers with relevant experience,
leaders of the private sector, development partners, friends of
Nigeria in the international community and all others who can help
in finding solutions to the problem at hand.

“The meeting must hold expeditiously and must be followed by
immediate actions. I know there are many people who believe that
the fact that this suggestion is coming from a source outside
government is a good reason for the President to ignore it. I think
the attitude this time around must be different. This is definitely
not a time for partisanship or for people to play politics with the
lives of the citizenry and the future of the country.

“Security of lives and properties is the first and most
important duty of government and it must be taken seriously. My
suggestion here is an appeal made out of genuine concern with what
is going on in our dear country.”

He called on the National Assembly to be more assertive in
finding solutions to this issue of insecurity.

“More important, in the democracy that we practice, the
institution charged with holding the executive accountable is the
legislature. In this regard, I strongly call on my colleagues in
the National Assembly to be more assertive in finding solutions to
this issue of insecurity. l need to make it clear that they will
not be helping the administration if they do not become more
insistent and decisive in their approach to getting this security
crisis tackled immediately. Doing this cannot be logically
interpreted as antagonising the executive. Just as treating the
issue in a mild manner does not amount to co-operation. They must
stand up and put Nigeria first before any other consideration. It
is by doing this that they can genuinely help both the government
and their constituents,” he said.

The former Senate President also said on the leaders of the
ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) also have a vital
role to play in finding solutions to the security crisis.

He said, “They must do all that is necessary to help the
administration to get solutions to this national crisis. This is a
time for them to be part of the search for the solution and getting
the government to act swiftly in implementing good ideas that will
return the country to normalcy and the path of genuine
development.”

Saraki further stated that,“Even those of us in the opposition
party recognise the fact we can only exist if we continue to have a
country. Thus, we are willing to cooperate with the government in
finding solutions to this problem. Our former leaders, I am sure,
are ready, willing, and able to assist the government with their
wealth of experience. With their active role in combating the
COVID-19 crisis, even the private sector has shown that if called
upon, at any time and on any issue, it is ready to help solve this
crisis. Our friends in the international community, have also
demonstrated their willingness to help us out.

“However, all these actors will not jump into the arena without
the government facilitating their intervention. The government
needs to call on them before this problem consumes all of us.

“At this point, words and press statements are not enough. We
need to see action. I appeal to Mr. President to take the bull by
the horn. He should act to stem the tide of this violence
threatening to tear the country apart.”

*Urges President to bring together his predecessors, past
and present National Assembly presiding officers, past and present
CJNs, serving and former heads of security agencies,
monarchs

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to seek help, wherever it can be given, to tackle
the worsening security situation, adding that the state of the
nation has gone beyond what the government can handle alone.

In a statement on Tuesday, Saraki told Buhari that seeking help
was not a sign of weakness.

The immediate past Senate President who premised his call on the
deteriorating security situation in the country

Listing the series of attacks on innocent citizens, schools,
communities and government institutions in recent days leading the
abduction and brutal killing of young scholars and spilling of
blood and destruction of property in several partsn of the country,
Saraki said this must not continue and could not be allowed to
become Nigeria’s new normal.

The statement reads: “Yesterday (Monday, April 26), Nigeria
experienced one of the saddest days in recent memory. All in one
day, from Anambra State to Kaduna, Yobe, Niger, and Lagos States,
critical insecurity issues were recorded and reported. Hour after
hour; breaking news after breaking news, we saw numerous
unacceptable reports of violence, kidnapping, terrorism, and the
systematic breakdown of law and order in many parts of the nation.
This should not be so.

“We read reports of Boko Haram hoisting up its flag in Niger
State, in Shiroro LGA that houses one of Nigeria’s largest power
stations — and is just about 200 kilometres from our federal
capital. We also read the statement of the Niger State governor,
where he expressed how helpless the government has become, and how
thousands of people have been displaced in his state. He also
lamented how the efforts of the federal government have not yielded
concrete results.

“We also received sad and disturbing reports that Mainok, a town
on the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway was invaded on Sunday by the
insurgents who unabashedly went on a killing spree — targeting our
brave soldiers and innocent civilians alike. Nine people were said
to have been killed by hoodlums that invaded Ukpomachi Village,
Awkuzu in Oyi LGA of Anambra State.

“In Kaduna State, two more innocent students that were kidnapped
from Greenfield University were killed by their abductors. While,
an unspecified number of students have now been abducted from the
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in Benue State. All in
one day. All within a 24-hour news cycle. This cannot continue.
This cannot become Nigeria’s new normal.

“Before giving my comment, I want to state that as we reel from
the multiple tragedies, my family and I will continue to pray for
all the affected families and communities. We will lend them our
full support as we all bind together to get past this difficult
time. May God grant them the fortitude and the strength that they
need to withstand this difficult and sad period.

“However, it is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari and the
All Progressives Congress (APC) government need help. They have
been overwhelmed by the situation and they sure need assistance
from all. Thus, I urge Mr. President to seek help wherever it can
be given. This matter has gone beyond what the government can
handle alone. The President should know that calling for help in
our present situation is not a sign of weakness.”

Recalling his advice to President Buhari in a previous letter,
Saraki said: “Just as I stated in my press statement on the same
issue on January 24, 2021, I want to reiterate that the President
needs to bring together all former Presidents and heads of state,
serving and former chief justices, serving and former presiding
officers of the National Assembly, serving and former heads of
security agencies, traditional rulers with relevant experience,
leaders of the private sector, development partners, friends of
Nigeria in the international community and all others who can help
in finding solutions to the problem at hand.

“The meeting must hold expeditiously and must be followed by
immediate actions. I know there are many people who believe that
the fact that this suggestion is coming from a source outside
government is a good reason for the President to ignore it. I think
the attitude this time around must be different. This is definitely
not a time for partisanship or for people to play politics with the
lives of the citizenry and the future of the country.

“Security of lives and properties is the first and most
important duty of government and it must be taken seriously. My
suggestion here is an appeal made out of genuine concern with what
is going on in our dear country.”

He called on the National Assembly to be more assertive in
finding solutions to this issue of insecurity.

“More important, in the democracy that we practice, the
institution charged with holding the executive accountable is the
legislature. In this regard, I strongly call on my colleagues in
the National Assembly to be more assertive in finding solutions to
this issue of insecurity. l need to make it clear that they will
not be helping the administration if they do not become more
insistent and decisive in their approach to getting this security
crisis tackled immediately. Doing this cannot be logically
interpreted as antagonising the executive. Just as treating the
issue in a mild manner does not amount to co-operation. They must
stand up and put Nigeria first before any other consideration. It
is by doing this that they can genuinely help both the government
and their constituents,” he said.

The former Senate President also said on the leaders of the
ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) also have a vital
role to play in finding solutions to the security crisis.

He said, “They must do all that is necessary to help the
administration to get solutions to this national crisis. This is a
time for them to be part of the search for the solution and getting
the government to act swiftly in implementing good ideas that will
return the country to normalcy and the path of genuine
development.”

Saraki further stated that,“Even those of us in the opposition
party recognise the fact we can only exist if we continue to have a
country. Thus, we are willing to cooperate with the government in
finding solutions to this problem. Our former leaders, I am sure,
are ready, willing, and able to assist the government with their
wealth of experience. With their active role in combating the
COVID-19 crisis, even the private sector has shown that if called
upon, at any time and on any issue, it is ready to help solve this
crisis. Our friends in the international community, have also
demonstrated their willingness to help us out.

“However, all these actors will not jump into the arena without
the government facilitating their intervention. The government
needs to call on them before this problem consumes all of us.

“At this point, words and press statements are not enough. We
need to see action. I appeal to Mr. President to take the bull by
the horn. He should act to stem the tide of this violence
threatening to tear the country apart.”