We’ll Secure Nigeria, Security Chiefs Assure Tinubu
Story/photo Culled from blueprint.ng
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the newly appointed National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to work as a team in order to succeed in their various assignments.
He also urged them to accomplish the objective of securing the country, establish peace and stability.
The president gave the directive Monday when he met behind closed doors with the security chiefs in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the NSA, Ribadu, said the president also assured them of his total support as they address the country’s security challenges.
“We’re here to thank Mr President for the opportunity he gave us to serve our country and to serve his own government. We also pledged our loyalty to him, Nigeria and Nigerians.
“We believe the choice he made is the right one, the correct one, and we know what he wants for this country. We’re going to work tirelessly to ensure that we accomplish that objective of securing our country, establishing peace, stability and let’s get our lives back.
“He gave us the assurance that he’s with us hundred percent. He told us that we must work as a team and that there’s work to be done, he’ll expect us to deliver and we’re grateful for the opportunity. That’s why we are here,” he said.
On where they planned to start from, the NSA said they would adopt a holistic approach.
“Where we are today and you can see already things are improving in our country. If you see the record of crimes and activities of criminals going down, it will continue to go down.
“We’ll secure this place. Nigerians have seen the quality of the people that are given opportunity, they are probably some of the best we have and they are not going to fail you, they’ll certainly deliver,” he said.
Yerima on dialogue with bandits
Meanwhile, former Zamfara state governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, has called on President Tinubu to initiate dialogue with bandits.
Addressing State House correspondents Monday after a meeting with the president in Abuja, Yerima said he was impressed with the actions and decisions so far taken by the administration.
He said the discomfort Nigerians were currently facing as a result of some the decisions taken by the president would soon go away.
On bandits and banditry, Yerima said: “You see I am not making a case for bandits; I’m just proposing a solution in Nigeria. The bandits, a lot of them have been killed, a lot of them have been arrested, and I’m not saying that government should just continue to negotiate indefinitely. No, I said, invite them. There are people who repent in all religions, Islam, Christianity, Judaism; you find that God Himself who created us, once you repent after committing sin, He forgives you. So, there is no way you can say Nigerians should not be forgiven if they repent.
“If they repent there should be rehabilitated and integrated in the society. And then measures should be taken to avoid the occurrence of this menace. But if they don’t, like I said, the government has enough power, enough resources, the military, security have enough capacity, Nigerian security, I have confidence in them that they have capacity, with the political will and support of government to handle these matters.”
“So, dialogue is part of governance. Negotiations…Like I said, First World War, Second World War were won through the negotiations on the negotiating table. Look at Ukraine and Russia. How far have they gone? How many years so far? And there’s no end in sight. If they continue to do military action. In the end, that is not going to be Ukraine. But if they have to come back to negotiation table, because its part of governance, policies and programmes.
“But we’ve heard that most of those bandits are from neighbouring countries like Chad, Niger so how do you think that…? Not most of them, we are talking of Nigerians. If Nigerians don’t give them the support if there is no poverty and ignorance among the Nigerians, this will not continue,” Yerima said.
On the activities of the new administration since coming on board, he said: “The president, having taken over the realm of affairs of our country, came up with three quick decisions that I believe as an economist, are going to help this country to achieve development. He removed the fuel subsidy, which former leaders could not remove, he has harmonised the foreign exchange, which is going to help the import and export system of this country and finally he re-opened the borders for goods and services to flow in Nigeria free.
“These three decisions were taken in the interest of Nigeria and with patience Nigerians will see the advantage of taking these decisions. What the president needs is prayers and the support of Nigerians. We have to be patient and I am sure the initial discomfort associated with the decisions especially removal of subsidy, I am sure will go away in due course.”
The former governor assured citizens that already plans are in the pipeline for palliative measures that would cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on fuel.
“On palliatives, the government is discussing with Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress and in due course things will be put in place to reduce the hardship being faced by Nigerians,” added the former lawmaker.
