Nigeria at a crossroads ― Secondus

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, had an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, with the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, observing that Boko Haram has fully returned to the North East, contrary to government’s claim that it has been defeated.

He said in his welcome address that Nigeria was now at crossroads because of government’s incompetence, saying that despite pleas to rejig his security apparatuses, President Muhammadu Buhari has remained adamant in keeping his non-performing security chiefs.

He said: “In the North East, the Boko Haram insurgency has returned fully and the President feels shocked that the sect still exist.

“We are already used to our President not knowing what is going on in the country.

“The President may have been deceived by the intelligence reports from his field men, who continue to indulge in propaganda of claiming that the sect has been defeated even when the situation is worsening with banditry and kidnapping spreading all over the state.

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“Nothing exposes the President’s insensitivity and distance from the reality and from the people like his shock that Boko haram still exists. But what do we expect when the President’s chief security adviser is at loggerheads with the President’s number one aide? Your guess will be as good as mine on why this administration cannot move this nation forward.”

Secondus told the party chieftains that despite the worrisome security situation in the country, the Buhari administration was not doing anything, causing citizens to live in fear for their lives.

He added: “Your Excellences, great leaders of our party, I can report to you that between the last NEC and now, our dear country is still at the crossroads due to the now obvious inept leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“The security situation in the country has refused to abate and nothing concrete is being done by the government to ameliorate it and stop the senseless killing of innocent Nigerians.

“Even when the National Assembly after reviewing the situation and asked the President to overhaul the security system for greater efficiency, the government has continued to demonstrate their insensitivity to the plight of the populace. Nigerians have never been as afraid of their lives as they are at moment in this country. It’s as bad as that.”

The party boss regretted that in the midst of insecurity and the poor state of the economy, the government increased Value Added Tax (VAT), putting businesses in danger and pushing the country towards bankruptcy.

He further stated: “Our country is in a very bad shape, the populace are groaning in pains and the government response is heaping of further pains on them. This country is sliding into bankruptcy.

“Amidst the frightening insecurity accompanied by mass killings that has set fears on the people, what you get from government is multiple tariffs, VAT etc, and continued indulgences in lies and propaganda.

“The truth about this country is that Nigerians don’t really know who is in charge. It appears that governance is in autopilot with government agencies in a free world harassing and intimidating perceived enemies.

“The Judiciary, which is a supposed sacred institution that midwives democracy, has been put under intense pressure by agencies of government.

“These are big issues and concerns capable of demoralising us, but I urge all not to despair because God is not finished with this country and with faith in him, we shall overcome.”