Sokoto State governor, Dr. Aminu Tambuwal, has advocated a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, attributing the recurring killings in most parts of the country to leadership failure.
Tambuwal stated this on a day Ibrahim Shekarau, former Kano State governor, described as senseless, despicable and unjustifiable killing of innocent and defenceless Nigerians in their own country by dare devil gunmen.
He noted that the growing spate of mindless shedding of innocent blood, especially of policemen and other security personnel on their lawful duty posts, had brought a new dimension to the reprehensible state of insecurity in the country.
The governor, who lamented that the harvests of deaths were not what Nigerians voted for in 2015, commiserated with families of citizens who lost their lives in the killings.
Tambuwal said in a statement that with the killing of security agents on their duty posts, ‘the question from every law abiding citizen today was “who will protect us, when even those constitutionally charged with the responsibility of protecting our lives and property have, themselves, become vulnerable targets of criminals?
”Where shall we run to for protection, when the institutions of state put in place to protect us are being progressively dismantled by opportunistic criminality and the trained personnel are also on the run?”
Continuing, Tambuwal said: ”Last May, three policemen were shot dead in Sokoto State by kidnappers, who abducted a Syrian national they were escorting. A few days later, four police officers were ambushed and killed in Benue State.
”Last week, seven policemen were reportedly gunned down in cold blood in Abuja, and their arms and ammunition were taken by unknown persons. This is happening amid repeatedly reported cases of attacks on police stations and other security facilities in various parts of the country.
”It bears repeating for me to state here that Nigeria’s security architecture and the strategies currently adopted and deployed for national security, if any, need a comprehensive overhaul. It is not working. The needless waste of life everywhere, both those of trained security personnel and ordinary citizens, is a drain on the nation’s resources and an unacceptable waste of our valuable human capital.
”Every policeman or military personnel is someone’s father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or friend. The number and frequency of deaths are undermining our humanity, making us less sensitive to the gravity of the situation we are in today and also creating a new generation of Nigerians, who may get accustomed to inhuman acts as the norm.
”The worst part of all this is that these deaths are avoidable and the killings preventable. It boils down, at the end of the day, to the failure of leadership. Nigeria cannot progress and be part of a 21st Century, forward-looking world by creating new batches of mourners every other day.
”This is not the way to go. That is not what Nigerians voted for in 2015. That is not what will build a virile, united, politically stable and economically prosperous African giant.”
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano State, has condemned what he described as the senseless, despicable and unjustifiable killings of innocent and defenceless Nigerians in their own country.
Shekarau, who stated this while fielding questions from journalists in Owerri, also expressed shock over the inability or unwillingness of the Federal Government to take decisive steps to stop the bizarre, inhuman and unwarranted termination of the lives of Nigerians.
“Nigeria is in dire need of leadership with focus, unbridled interest and love in the welfare and security of Nigerians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
While expressing deep shock and grief over the current socio-economic woes and violent killings across the nation, Shekarau, however, called on Nigerians to pray for and assist families of victims of the senseless killings.
The former governor said he was optimistic that Nigeria would regain its lost glory as the most peaceful, progressive, united and enviable nation in Africa.
Speaking about his presidential ambition, Shekarau said he possessed credentials, contacts, ability and capability to pilot the affairs of the country to a glorious and enviable height where Nigerians would be proud to remain, work at home and ever willing to contribute to the growth and unity of the country.
Reminded about the re-entry of another former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Shekarau said: “I personally welcome Kwankwaso to PDP.
”His return to PDP is a welcome development. PDP is a political platform for all well-meaning Nigerians, and like a good father, the PDP is ever willing to welcome all its sons back to its fold.”
