- ….Suggests meeting former Presidents, Heads of State, others
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to seek help, from wherever it can be gotten, over the general insecurity and other challenges confronting Nigeria.
Saraki, in a statement personally signed by him yesterday in Abuja, declared that matter has gone beyond what the government can handle alone.
He told President Buhari that he should know that calling for help in the nation’s present situation is not a sign of weakness.
Saraki also reiterated that the President needs to bring together all former Presidents and heads of state, serving and former chief justices, serving and former presiding officers of the National Assembly, serving and former heads of security agencies, traditional rulers with relevant experience, leaders of the private sector, development partners, friends of Nigeria in the international community and all others who can help in finding solutions to the problem at hand.
He maintained that it is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government need help, noting that they
have been overwhelmed by the situation and they sure need assistance from all.
Saraki, a two-term governor of Kwara
State and Chairman, National reconciliation committee and strategy of the PDP, in his statement, said, “I urge Mr. President to seek help wherever it can be given. This matter has gone beyond what the government can handle alone.
“The President should know that calling for help in our present situation is not a sign of weakness.
“Just as I stated in my press statement on the same issue on January 24, 2021, I want to reiterate that the President needs to bring together all former Presidents and heads of state, serving and former chief justices, serving and former presiding officers of the National Assembly, serving and former heads of security agencies, traditional rulers with relevant experience, leaders of the private sector, development partners, friends of Nigeria in the international community and all others who can help in finding solutions to the problem at hand.
“The meeting must hold expeditiously and must be followed by immediate actions.
“I know there are many people who believe that the fact that this suggestion is coming from a source outside government is a good reason for the President to ignore it.
“I think the attitude this time around must be different.
“This is definitely not a time for partisanship or for people to play politics with the lives of the citizenry and the future of the country.
“Security of lives and properties is the first and most important duty of government and it must be taken seriously.
“My suggestion here is an appeal made out of genuine concern with what is going on in our dear country.
“More important, in the democracy that we practice, the institution charged with holding the executive accountable is the legislature.
“In this regard, I strongly call on my colleagues in the National Assembly to be more assertive in finding solutions to this issue of insecurity.
“I need to make it clear that they will not be helping the administration if they do not become more insistent and decisive in their approach to getting this security crisis tackled immediately.
“Doing this cannot be logically interpreted as antagonising the executive. Just as treating the issue in a mild manner does not amount to co-operation.
“They must stand up and put Nigeria first before any other consideration. It is by doing this that they can genuinely help both the government and their constituents.
“The leaders of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) also have a vital role to play. They must do all that is necessary to help the administration to get solutions to this national crisis. “This is a time for them to be part of the search for the solution and getting the government to act swiftly in implementing good ideas that will return the country to normalcy and the path of genuine development”, he said.
Going down memory lane, Saraki said, “Yesterday (Monday, April 26), Nigeria experienced one of the saddest days in recent memory.
“All in one day, from Anambra State to Kaduna, Yobe, Niger, and Lagos States, critical insecurity issues were recorded and reported.
“Hour after hour; breaking news after breaking news, we saw numerous unacceptable reports of violence, kidnapping, terrorism, and the systematic breakdown of law and order in many parts of the nation. This should not be so.”
