Insecurity: Declare State Of Emergency In Katsina, Zamfara, ADC Urges Tinubu
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has advised President Bola Tinubu to arrest the killers of over 140 people in Katsina and Zamfara, and also declare a state of emergency in the states.
ADC gave the advice in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday, condemning the massacre in Malumfashi, Katsina State, where dozens of worshippers and villagers were brutally killed.
The party said the killings were damning proof of the total collapse of the nation’s national security architecture, which it noted, has prompted the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to ask citizens to learn how to defend themselves.
It said it was disheartening to note that instead of confronting these urgent national tragedies with the seriousness they demand, President Bola Tinubu continues to jet-set across the world, chasing photo-ops, while his people are dying in dozens at home.
ADC reminded Mr. President that diplomacy abroad is meaningless if safety and security at home cannot be guaranteed. Noting that President Tinubu has not made a direct statement of condolence to family of victims or given the assurance of safety to those still alive.
“This negligence would have been unthinkable in those countries that the President loves to visit.
“In view of the foregoing, ADC therefore calls for an immediate declaration of a State of Emergency in Katsina and Zamfara States until the government is able to stem the tide of bloodshed in those places and restore some order,” the party said.
It also called on President Tinubu and his government to embark on total re-evaluation of Nigeria’s national security architecture, which it said has already proven incapable of protecting lives and property.
“The recent call by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for citizens to acquire self-defence skills is perhaps the most honest indicator yet that there is a need to rethink the entire internal defence system,” ADC said.
It also lambasted the Governors under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for holding their political meeting in Zamfara on Saturday, only a few days after scores of innocent citizens were slaughtered in that same state.
Party said instead of the governors to rally around their beleaguered colleague to help stop the orgy of killings, they chose to stage a political rally at the scene of mass murder, even if it meant trampling on the memory of the victims.
It noted that the photos of PDP Governors in full ceremonial robes, grinning for the camera was totally out of place in an environment that still reeks of so much blood and sorrow.
“This act alone further underlines an important fact: neither the ruling APC nor the incurably afflicted PDP care about the people and their suffering. They only care about power and politics,” ADC stated in the statement.
