Some members of the coalition at the solidarity rally on Saturday in Makurdi
The Coalition of North Central Civil Society Groups has said President Muhammadu Buhari and the current service chiefs need the support of all to continue on their mission to save the country from the clog of Insecurity and corruption.
The group in their numbers at a solidarity rally in Makurdi, the Benue state capital on Saturday explained that their resolve to appeal for support is informed by the improvement witnessed in the country in the areas of security and fight against corruption especially as it pertains to the security of citizens, lives and property and particularly the North Central region.
Addressing journalists at the rally, Mr. Benard Tiza, Plangnam Useni, converner and co-convener of the group regretted that despite huge successes recorded by the Buhari administration, some naysayers were bent on tarnishing the image of the administration.
Displaying placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Fight Against Corruption and Insecurity Must Be Won’,
‘Thank You PMB For Resolving Conflicts Between Herders and Farmers’, ‘We Say No to Unprovoked Attacks on Our Security Agencies’. ‘Military Doing Good in Curtailing Insurgents, Bandits’, ‘Thank You PMB For Your Stand Against Corruption and Insecurity’ amongst others called on citizens to stand up in solidarity with the government.
“It has become imperative to address you on the state of the Nation. Most especially as it pertains to the security of citizens, Lives and property and particularly the North Central region. More so that the constitution makes the protection of citizens sacrosanct and the first priority for every government.
“Since contemporary democracy in 1999, Nigeria has been grappling with many security challenges, ranging from insurgency, kidnapping and most recently, the herder-farmer conflicts among other communal clashes . The north central states of Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa and other states have experienced conflicts that led to thousands of deaths and displacements as a result of clashes between pastoralists (herders) and local farmers in several communities. In January 2018 alone, Amnesty International reports indicate that 168 people were killed as a result of herdsmen-farmer clashes.
“Today we address you to boldly inform you that the story has improved tremendously over time, we have been involved in peace building and crisis management advocacy and as such we have noticed great improvement which has informed our decision to pass a vote confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and the service chiefs for their unrelenting efforts at reducing these clashes to the barest minimum. It is our hope that the clashes will be totally brought to an end”, the group argued.
It further urged President Buhari to keep faith with the service chiefs and disregard unpatriotic calls for their sack considering the successes they have achieved.
“We recall with chagrin that, before the coming on board of this administration and particularly the service chiefs, bombing became the order of the day. It was unusual to wake up and not see gory pictures of bomb blasts. Abuja the Nation’s capital was not safe too.
“In the light of this, we rise to oppose calls from some quarters for the sack of the military chiefs. It is our settled opinion based on the success recorded by the security agencies that, you do not change a winning team in the middle of a battle.
“We commend the military for their renewed determination to go after the main sponsors of these terrorist, bandits and criminals. Their arrest and prosecution is the only sure way of eliminating insurgency in the country”.
