Forum calls on Jonathan to immediately address rising insurgency

From: Umar Dankano, Yola

The National chairman of a non-political organisation, Northern Youth Leaders Forum, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency, direct the service chiefs to, within two weeks, tackle the high rate of insurgency in the North or be relieved of their exalted positions.

Comrade Eliot Afiyo, made the call in an interview, with journalists in Yola, Adamawa state capital yesterday, stressing that, the loss of precious lives to insurgency in the north is alarming every day, hence the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to issue an ultimatum to the military brass to address the security challenges.

He also said that a number of previous and quality lives have been lost to sporadic attacks of the innocent Nigerians, but regrettably the military has not been making headway in tackling the security challenges in the area.

Afiyo also disclosed that Northern Youths Leaders Forum, would not hesitate if President Goodluck Jonathan should declare a full state of emergency in the three most affected states by insurgency in the event the present service chiefs failed to tackle the phenomenon and appoint sole administrators.

He said that Northern youths leaders forum, is solidly behind president Jonathan in that regard because every lost of life, would have its repercussion to the socio-economic development of the North-East in particular and the entire north in general.

The National Chairman also lauded the removal of the special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on political Affairs, Barrister Ahmed Ali Gulak because he had allegedly used his position not to the advantage of the president but to his disadvantage as he allegedly caused havoc to the president.

While he maintained that Gulak’s removal has been long overdue, he stated that it was better late than never because, according to him, Gulak used his office to attract more enemies to the President Jonathan across the country, particularly in the North.

To avoid a repeat of the wrong committed by Gulak, the Northern Youths leaders Forum, advised President Jonathan to appoint a God-fearing personality, who should be able to distinguish between the positions of the government from his selfish interest.

“The president should appoint a credible God fearing individual to replace Gulak so as not to attract more enemies to his principal than friends” Afiyo said.

Adding, “Nigeria now needs social engineering on the focus of the government as a nation and in line with what our people’s needs and aspirations. Disaffections and ill feelings should not be attracted to Mr. President”.