…Say activities of bandits, vandals beclouding president’s efforts

 

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

State Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have urged President Bola Tinubu to sack any Service Chief, head of police formation and Department of State Services (DSS) that is either lukewarm, taciturn, reticent, or pugnacious in the current fight against insecurity in the country.

They made the appeal during a courtesy visit on the National Chairman of the ruling party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in Abuja at the weekend.

Recalling the thrust of their visit to the State House for the meeting with President Tinubu, the State Chairman, APC Cross River and Secretary, Forum of APC State Chairmen in Nigeria, Alphonsus Ogah, lamented that insecurity has stagnated the efforts of the Federal Government.

He specifically noted that whatever efforts Mr. President is making have been beclouded by the nefarious activities of bandits and vandals.

While appealing to President Tinubu to wield the big stick on anybody in the front line of fighting and combating crime, he said: “We made it very clear to Mr President that no reasonable person will expect him as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take up arms and go round the crannies of Nigeria to fight the criminal elements, bandits, kidnappers and the armed robbers.

“And that is why the constitution of Nigeria has created the security agencies saddled with this responsibility.

“We commended the efforts and contributions of Mr. President in terms of moral boost, financial support for equipment procurement and all others. The only added advice we brought to him is that people at the forefront should be held accountable.

“And we were very firm, but with absolute humility in telling Mr. President that district police officers, or Divisional Police Officers, Commissioners of Police, SSS, or anybody in the front line of fighting and combating crime that is either lukewarm, taciturn, reticent, in being pugnacious should please be shown the way out.

“It was, therefore, a call on Mr. President to wield the big stick on those who are not ready to help him because we have come to the conclusion some persons are out to distract Mr. President and some persons are out to put this party in bad light.

“So, whatever efforts Mr. President is making would be beclouded by the nefarious activities of these bandits and vandals. And we think the time has come for Mr. President to say enough is enough.”

Commenting, Ganduje said: “This is a very important courtesy call you made to Mr. President. He is so happy with it. And it will continue like this. He has granted your requests, especially on political appointments. He is doing something about it.

“He emphasised the issue of electronic registration which we have been working with the consultant and our committee at the headquarters have gone far. Now, we are going to the grassroots level.

“It will be connected across the wards of the federation, but you need to understand the recruitment of officials or personnel who will undertake the exercise because you are involved in the recruitment and you are involved in the execution of the registration.

“I now request the Deputy National Organising Secretary to put us through the arrangement for the recruitment for the exercise.”