Former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, has expressed worries over the security situation in the country, urging President Bola Ahmed Tunubu to strengthen the nation’s security formations with adequate equipment and resources to enable them tame the worrisome security challenges.
Anakwenze expressed this concern in a statement, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday, noting the escalating cases of killings, armed robbery, oil tanker explosions, attacks by gunmen, kidnapping for ransom, banditry and violent clashes among herders and farmers, among others.
The PDP chieftain called on President Tinubu’s administration to meaningfully tackle the challenges in a way that would rekindle hope in Nigerians that they have a government which truly cares for their well-being, and proactively wards off any security challenges that may threaten their peace before such manifest.”
Anakwenze, while making the call, lamented the security situation of the country, which he said had worsened under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, contrary to what Nigerians experienced in the PDP administration that ruled the country before the inception of the immediate former President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration succeeded by the incumbent President.
According to him, the worsening security situation in the country, with the high unemployment rate, depreciating value of the Naira, and the worsening state of infrastructure has forced many companies to fold up or relocate outside the country, saying that the situation was frustrating enough to impel many promising young Nigerians especially graduates to flee the country for greener pasture elsewhere in what is popularly called the Japa syndrome.
“The security challenges confronting Nigeria now deserve to be addressed decisively by the Federal Government to rekindle hope in Nigerians that they have a government which truly cares for their well-being, a government that adequately protects them and proactively wards off any security challenges that may threaten their peace before such manifest..
“In this wise, I strongly appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently summon an emergency meeting of all our country’s security formations, together with accomplished security experts, to devise a more credible approach to tackling the escalating security challenges.
“All these are in line with our 13-point offer to give hope to Nigerians, where we declared, among others, that the development of an effective security network for the whole country should be the topmost priority.
“There is therefore the urgent need by the President Tinubu administration to dialogue and be aggressive where necessary,” the PDP chieftain said.
“We need to better train, equip and upgrade our security personnel, pay them better, and support them and their families; while we use security intelligence mechanisms to pursue the bandits and terrorists and utilise modern technology, including helicopters and armed drones, to fight these terrorists,” he added.
Speaking further, Anakwenze urged Tinubu’s administration to create jobs for the youth and rescue them from the shameful and demeaning Japa syndrome by utilising all the nation’s natural endowment for the good of all Nigerians, saying this became imperative because the security situation of any country is determined principally by its economic prosperity.
“The government needs to recognise that the security situation of any country is determined principally by its economic prosperity or otherwise. Therefore, we urge the President Tinubu administration to create jobs for our youths and rescue them from the shameful and demeaning Japa syndrome by utilising all our natural endowments for the good of all Nigerians.
“Government should create jobs, work with industries to create internships that will help our young graduates currently roaming the streets, unemployed, or considering flying to Europe, Canada, or America for menial jobs.
“We hereby restate our address of hope for Nigeria, partly: We want a true democracy in Nigeria, beginning with freedom for fellow Nigerians and by extension, Africa, as a whole. We want a Nigeria where the various ethnic groups feel that they have a stake in the future of the country. We envision a Nigeria where leadership is based on merit, hard work, fairness for all and accountability as the measure of our national character.
“We envision a United Nigeria in a true sense of the word ‘United,’ where every Nigerian feels a sense of belonging and not marginalized. Where the governed have trust in the governance and the governed truly believe that they can vote, and be voted in to serve and understand the true meaning of ‘public trust.’
“We want a country where regardless of one’s ethnic and/or religious background, they feel that they are part of the equation. We envision a Nigeria where ethnic diversity is seen as a strength and asset to be harnessed and celebrated as part of our rich heritage
“We want a country where equity, fairness, and justice should be the guiding principles for a just society that we envision. We want a Nigeria where the majority’s rights are balanced with the minority’s rights. Nigerians should believe in healthy competitive excellence, that is the hallmark of great nations. Let’s make our children superstars through competitions and excellence with the rest of the world,” Anakwenze stated.
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