By Ayo Kehinde
Convener of The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi on Sunday bemoaned the bloodstained insecurity in the northern part of the country in a letter on behalf of the organisation to President Muhammed Buhari, accusing his government for failing to solve the high rate of insecurity in the north. He said it has become an unbearable as governors in the affected states in the North appear helpless in the face of the bloodletting unleashed on the region by the combined fire- power of banditry, cattle rustling and terrorism.
Hardly had the letter enjoyed some visibility in the media that the presidency replied the NEF in dismissive terms. In a statement signed by Media Adviser to the President, Mr Femi Adesina,on Sunday, the Presidency described the Ango- led NEF as “Generals Without Troops”. Just as this statement is enjoying plenty media coverage, Nigerians have weighed in. Many feel angered by what they called the apparent refusal of the government to agree that the insecurity in the north in particular and the country in general has gone out of hand and practically nothing serious is being done by government to tackle the hydra-headed problem.
For clear reading, we present the statements and reactions from all the sides, below:
Prof Ango Abdullahi
NEF STATEMENT:
“Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is alarmed at the rising insecurity of communities and their properties in the North. Recent escalation of attacks by bandits, rustlers and insurgents leave the only conclusion that the people of the North are now completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will, wreaking havoc,” the statement read.
“It would appear that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and governors have lost control over the imperatives of protecting people of the North, a constitutional duty that they swore to uphold.
“The situation is getting worse literally by the day as bandits and insurgents appear to sense a huge vacuum in political will and capacity which they exploit with disastrous consequences on communities and individuals.”
“As a responsible body, the forum has joined millions of others in prayers and in giving advice and encouragement to all authorities that have responsibility to protect our communities,”
“It is now time to say, enough is enough. Our people are known for their patience and respect for constituted authorities, but all governments must be aware by now that all Northerners have been pushed to the wall.
“The forum is aware that some citizens are contemplating peaceful protests, which are their constitutional rights, to draw attention of President Buhari and all levels of authority to the plight of people of the North.
“The forum urges all citizens to conduct themselves in peaceful and responsible manner, and it urges governments to respect the rights of citizens to express their opinions peacefully.”
“The Forum reminds President Muhammadu Buhari that provision of security and pursuit of economic welfare of citizens are the only two constitutional responsibilities of the state which all leaders must achieve,”
“Our current circumstances in the North clearly demonstrate that President Buhari’s administration has woefully failed to achieve either. This is unacceptable.
“We demand an immediate and comprehensive improvement of our security in the North. We are tired of excuses and verbal threats, which criminals laugh at, and our fellow citizens see as a clear failure of leadership, which they see as part of them. Enough is enough.”
Mr Femi Adesina
PRESIDENCY: Northern Elders Forum: Still General Without Troops
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) in a statement Sunday signed by its so-called Convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, alleged that the insecurity in some northern states of the country was an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors of those states have lost control over the protection of the people, which is a constitutional duty.
We are not surprised by this latest statement by Prof. Abdullahi, and our past position on what his group represents remains unchanged: a mere irritant and featherweight.
The former vice chancellor signed the statement under the banner of Northern Elders Forum (NEF). Hearing that title, you would think the body was a conglomeration of true elders. But the truth is that NEF is just Ango Abdullahi, and Ango Abdullahi is NEF. It is a quasi-organization that boasts of no credible membership, and its leader is akin to a General without troops.
Before the 2019 presidential election, the one-man army called NEF had shown its antipathy against President Buhari, and its preference for another candidate. They all got beaten together.
NEF is merely waving a flag that is at half-mast. President Buhari steadily and steadfastly focuses on the task of retooling Nigeria, and discerning Nigerians know the true state of the nation. They don’t need a paper tiger to tell them anything
Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President. Media and Publicity), June 14, 2020
REACTIONS:
Mr Wale Adedayo: Publisher, Uhuru Times:
Ordinarily, one should not get involved in this roforofo fight. But the reaction of Mr. President’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, runs counter to what a genuine patriot and someone, who believes in God should write. Adesina missed it. And, big time too!
Instead of retrieving the ball, Adesina went for Prof. Ango Abdullahi’s
For the record, son of man is not a fan of Ango Abdullahi. I was a 100 level student at the University of Ilorin in 1986, when Farida Mustapha was murdered by policemen on errand for the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University. We did what we had to do at UNILORIN at the time.
Times without number after Abdullahi’s disgraceful tenure at ABU, the man has not for once spoken up in defence of Nigeria. He has his agenda, which is definitely against that of a progressive and developed Nigeria. But in one of the three volumes given mankind by Abd-Ru-Shin, the Leader of The Grail Movement made us realise that, “Gold remains gold, even in the hands of a leper.”
Only someone without conscience, for whatever reason, can discountenance Abdullahi’s assertion about the level of insecurity in Northern Nigeria today. If the number of daily killings being experienced in that part of the country had taken place in another country, Nigeria would have been classified as a failed state. No doubt about that at all.
Despite claims to the contrary, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to get his acts together about taming the monster of insecurity in Nigeria. It is the same with most if not all the Governors of Northern Nigeria. Till date, travelling through Kogi State remains a nightmare for many. The Governor has FAILED serially to tame the kidnappers and killers on the roads linking Kogi State to the Federal capital.
In Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe and the worst of them all, Borno State, killings have continued without respite. Although enormous propaganda have been deployed to make things look sane, the bloodshed in these places should be enough for ANY God-fearing person to reconsider Abdullahi’s assertion.
There is no other word for failure. The Federal Government has failed the people where these killings are taking place. It is not just a small failure, but a monumental one. And, that is very sad as security of lives and properties remain the primary responsibility of any responsible government.
We can withdraw this statement, of course, on the condition that those who disagree WILL witness the killings of their loved ones in gruesome circumstances as it is happening in those places Insha Allah! May the killers of their loved ones also be given money and offered amnesty instead of justice. Amin!!!
Sulaiman Abubakar: This …statement from Femi Adesina. You did not address the issue he, (Ango) raised, rather you attacked his person. It is very true we have very serious security problem particularly in the north and many people are disappointed in your principal’s handling of the situation. W e cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results. You better tell Mr President to change his style.
Jamilu Ibn Muhammed: Not anymore sir. We are solidly behind the NEF. As they said, it is true your principal has failed the North. This is a slap on our face, playing politics at the expense of our lives. Indeed your principal has failed the whole nation and the North in particular. I particularly regretted supporting him. The earlier you realize your losing grip the better.
Olayinka Oladosu: The Elders should join and proffer solutions. Let us take our feet out of the gas for a second, lets reason together, the North and the entire country belong to Nigerians. If the north is bleeding then the elders should approach the President and give advice, writing through the paper is better than merely shooting into the gallery.
Okanlawon Abayomi Issac: Has the President not lost control of security in the Northeast? Boko Harma still attacks Munguno in Borno State. Bandits still launch attacks and kill people. The Presidency should be ashamed that Katsina people protested the insecurity on the preident’s home state. For the first time, I have to disagree with you… Nigeria has never this bad in terms of insecurity.
Chukwu Iwuchukwu: Oga Femi Adesina. Go through these comments. These are not wailers or PDP supporters. Your principal has failed and failed woefully. Hope you can summon courage to tell him this. Nigerians are dying and he needs to do better.
Thomas Okirika George: A distasteful statement coming form some heights, distasteful and insensitive.
Ahmed Wazobia: Wo!. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through his aide is taking their time to reply to one insignificant “mere irritant”. To the core of the issue of insecurity, should the citizens not talk about increasing spate of deaths in the north?.
Smeon Mpamugoh: It is sad that a professor should allow his name to be dragged into such king of “featherweight” group. On the issue of insecurity, I think PMB is trying. We need to be fair and objective in the way we talk about the president and those entrusted to represent him, even if the person is s cleaner.
Kamaladden Mustapha: We were taught one of the functions of government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. What the government fails to provide the above mentioned function what do you call that government?
Mr Fani Kayode, former Minister of Aviation
Fani-Kayode on his Twitter page wrote: “No-one in Nigeria has supported the barbaric savagery of the Fulani herdsmen more than Prof. Ango Abdullahi. He is even more of an extreme hegemonist, religious bigot and ethnic supremacist than @MBuhari. He deserved what he got from Femi Adesina and the Presidency today.”
Former Media Aide to President Jonathan, Reno Mokri @renoomokri tweeted on Monday
Mr Reno Omokri
“Is anybody thinking at the Presidency?
Northern Elders Forum complian of insecurity in the north and your response is to insult them as irritants and featherweights. Will you follow General @Buhari to Daura in 2023?”
