NYCN urges Tinubu to end insecurity

* Says Sukubo, others not suspended

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Disturbed by the rising insecurity in the country, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rejig the nation’s security intelligence, command, operation and coordination structure to stem the carnage.

The NYCN, which made the call at a press conference addressed by its Deputy Secretary, Comrade Rikki Nwajiofor, in Abuja, expressed sadness at the daily kidnappings and gunmen attacks in most parts of the country.

The current security situation in the country, the NYCN maintained, called

for urgent action to ensure the release of all those held in kidnappers’ dens in various parts of the country.

The NYCN similarly made it clear that its National Executive Council, NEC, has not suspended its President, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, neither has it suspended the Deputy President, Amb. Innocent Nduanya, Secretary General, Abubakar Suleiman Esq., and the Treasurer, Comrade Nnamdi Ezemagu.

It maintained that all the above named officers of NYCN are still bona fide members of the NEC.

According to the address by the Deputy Secretary of the NYCN, “The members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) are concerned about the rising insecurity situation in the country, describing the situation as disturbing.

“The apex youth body, under the leadership of its President, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, is saddened by the now daily kidnappings and gunmen attacks in most parts of the country, a situation that calls for urgent action to ensure the release of all those held in kidnappers’ dens in various parts of the country.

“NYCN observed that the alarming situation is an agonizing confirmation of the urgent need to rejig the security intelligence, command, operation, and coordination structure to stem the carnage.

“The Council, however, appreciates and commends the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his patriotism, courage, and determination in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other social vices plaguing our country despite daunting challenges.

“NYCN expresses confidence in Nigeria’s security high command to tackle the insecurity problem and charges President Tinubu to do more by urgently addressing the economic challenges. The Council observed that economic woes have further compounded the insecurity problem.

“As President Tinubu continues to empower the security agencies with the needed resources, we charge him to speed up the implementation of his economic policy and review where necessary to ease Nigerians’ hardship. “When people can move around easily at an affordable price, when citizens can afford basic commodities, with employment opportunities and basic infrastructure, the insecurity will reduce to the nearest minimum.

“The umbrella body of Youth Organizations calls on Nigerians to be alert and continue to support President Tinubu and our security agencies in their efforts to safeguard the nation at this very critical time”, it said.

Continuing, the NYCN said, “Meanwhile, it was brought to our notice that some aggrieved members of NYCN, on the 29th of January 2024, in a failed coup d’état, sought to create division in NYCN.

“The NEC is aware that this atrocity was perpetrated with the support of some aggrieved stakeholders, a senior civil servant in a government agency, and a newly inaugurated state governor.

“To set the records straight, NYCN NEC has not suspended its President, Sukubo, nor has it suspended the Deputy President – Amb. Innocent Nduanya, Secretary General, Abubakar Suleiman Esq., and the Treasurer – Comrade Nnamdi Ezemagu. The above-mentioned members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of NYCN are still bona fide members of the NEC.

“Amb. Sukubo remains the only President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria; any other self-acclaimed President, whether in an acting capacity or not, is a desperate impostor and should be treated as such and disregarded”, the council said.