INSECURITY IN NIGERIA
The rate at which innocent members of the public are being killed on a daily basis is condemnable. It’s in view of this that I want to state the position of OPC, New Era about the general insecurity pervading the land.
Prior to the 2015 general elections, the issue of insecurity occasioned by unrelented attacks by Boko Haram terrorists was one of the albatross of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Pointedly, it was this issue of insecurity that made Nigerians to vote out Jonathan thinking that President Muhammadu Buhari with his military experience would be able to nip in the bud, the insecurity which had culminated into loss of lives and properties. Today, three years since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed the leadership of the country, our greatest apprehension as people of this great nation which of course is insecurity has assumed a very dangerous dimension. Killing of innocent members of the public has become the order of the day. Security agencies in the country who are constitutionally mandated to protect the lives and property of Nigerians have failed woefully. President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaction over the killings of innocent members of the public by Fulani herdsmen and unknown militias has also made the whole scenario very worrisome. If it is not Benue today; it could be Kogi tomorrow. And next could either be Taraba, Zamfara or even Kaduna. It is so sad that these killings go unchecked and more worrisome is the inability of the so-called security agencies to bring to book perpetrators of this heinous crimes.
Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, New Era strongly condemns these killings and urge President Muhammadu Buhari to go back to the drawing table and put an end to these senseless killings by the Fulani herdsmen and other unknown militias. We also condemn in strongest term the way and manner President Muhammadu Buhari has been defending and exonerating the killer herdsmen. The President should know that it is these People who are being killed by the Fulani herdsmen that voted for him and not these killers he is defending at every forum the issue comes up.
We have all seen that this present government cannot protect the lives of Nigerians. In view of this, we are calling on Nigerians to also look for other ways to defend themselves. As a group which stands against injustice; we are ready to give assistance to any states that is experiencing attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
ON DINO MELAYE
We would not have delved into this issue of Melaye if not for the gross violation of fundamental human rights of this lawmaker. We are not saying that Melaye is above the law of the land; so also is Nigerian Police.
The way and manner, Melaye has been treated over an allegation that he is yet to be found guilty by a competent court of law.
ON AMBODE’S SECOND TERM
Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state has performed to greatest admiration of many Lagosians. It is in view of this and our assessment of the development he has brought to Lagos since his emergence as Governor. We are in Epe today and we are very happy to see a new Epe brought about by the dynamic leadership of Ambode.
We are using this medium to commend the Governor and also inform him that Oodua Peoples Congress, New Era is in support of his second term in office. We urge him to continue in his good work.