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The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has asked the federal government to take urgent steps improve the capacity of the country’s security services in the face of growing threat posed by terrorism. A statement signed by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Imo State,
Chief Rochas Okorocha, urged federal government to explore all avenues to ensure the protection of lives and properties.
“We urge the federal government to strengthen the capacity of our security services and provide all the equipment and resources that our officers and men in the frontline need to become an effective fighting force and to carry out counterterrorism operations,” he said.
He said the PGF was also reiterating its commitment to work with all stakeholders to reduce terrorism and address the root causes of terror such as illiteracy, social disenchantment, injustice and inequality in the society.
Similarly, the governors said the federal government should note that terrorism had never been defeated anywhere by sheer force alone.
“All avenues must be explored to ensure the safety of the lives and property of all Nigerians; this is the minimum requirement of government. “We hereby expresses its deep condolences with the families of those killed and injured by yet another dastardly and mindless bomb attack on innocent Nigerians who were only trying to earn legitimate livelihoods in already difficult times.
“Coming barely three days after a similar attack in Kano, the twin explosions in Jos, Plateau State on Tuesday, May 21, 2014 marks a significant escalation in the senseless attacks on Nigerians and an affront on the Nigerian state. “It is apparent that these attacks were intended to cause as much carnage as possible, and also increase mutual suspicion among people of different faiths and ethnicity. We urge Nigerians to stand firm and not relent to the antic of terrorists who seek to return us to the dark ages.
Similarly, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government on the issue of urgent and proper funding of the armed forces.
In a statement by CNPP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the group quoted the Chief of Accounts and Budget of the Nigeria Army, Major General Abdullahi Muraina, complaining that inadequate funding, bureaucratic bottlenecks and the nebulous envelope system are adversely hindering military operations,
The CNPP urged the PDP to stop the blame game and fund the military.
“We are sick and tired of the unfounded blame-game-drum PDP is serially darting at the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the midst of threatening insurgency, bloodletting and gruesome anarchy in the land.
“It is our candid view that propaganda cannot bail us out, for if anybody in the APC is behind the insurgency why don’t the PDP arrest the person?
“While the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday was idling away with their blame game, the Chief of Accounts and Budget of Nigeria Army, Major General Abdullahi Muraina, exploded the bomb in Jaji, ‘Currently, budgetary allocations for the military is inadequate to meet the challenges and also to cater for the welfare of the Nigeria Army.’”
It went further to narrate that apart from inadequate funding bureaucratic bottlenecks and the nebulous envelope system are adversely hindering military operations, army was enmeshed in the bureaucratic bottlenecks for funding approvals for military operations.
According to CNPP, inadequate funding might have been the reason why soldiers allegedly shot Major General Ahmed Mohammed, the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division, the first of such incident in the history of military operations in Nigeria.
“CNPP recalls that when the governor of Borno State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shetima, told the world that the Boko Haram insurgents were better equipped and better motivated than the Nigeria Army; PDP went to town hauling all manner of invectives on the governor. A Daniel has come to judgment as Major General Muraina is only painfully telling the truth and not playing politics, for the man who wears the shoe knows where it pinches.
“In sum, the PDP should swallow the humble pie and admit that the corruption mandate it has implemented since our return to civil rule has not only ravaged our infrastructure, declined our economic development, impoverished our citizenry, but has stunted the robust growth of our military,” it said.
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