Insecurity, poverty deepening under Tinubu, says Northern CSOs
The Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks on Saturday cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over increasing insecurity and economic hardship and dwindling public confidence in the judiciary.
The group’s Chairman, Amb. Ibarhim Waiya, gave the warning on Saturday at a press briefing in Kano.
According to Waiya, the CSO network with members across 19 Norther State was concerned about the level Nigeria is declining in its democracy, owing to several elections that have been conducted in Nigeria, at both states and Nigeria, where contestations have been the order of the day, as asserted by credible institutions and individuals as in the case of Imo, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau and even at the presidential elections.
READ ALSO: Kaduna Bombing: Tinubu’s Government faces legal action over fatal Military error
He said: “It is a known fact that the strongest pillar of democracy are the people, which recent elections have shown to have suppressed their voices. A democratic society respects the voices of the people by recognizing their wishes”.
On increasing Poverty and economic hardship, Waiya said the government should declare a state of emergency as “additional 30 million Nigerians have so far fallen into the trap of a multi – dimensional poverty, since the beginning of the present administration”.
He noted that igniting any potentially motivated political conflict in any part of the country especially in some opposition States of the North, is an open invitation to the destruction of our dear country which we must collectively work to avert.
The text of the press briefing read further:
“Although, it has not been long since the appointment of the new service chiefs in the country, and huge investment in the security sector. Citizens’ expectation is that, by now, security of lives and properties should have been brought to the beareast minimum level.
However the continuous killings of people, child trafficking, banditry, displacement of communities, kidnappings, across the country, especially in some States of the North, such as: Katsina, Plateau, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara States, re- surfacing of the insurgency in the North East, is so unprecedented. The dimension at which the security for lives and properties of the Nigerian citizens, which is fast declining, puts citizens into more fear, hopelessness and uncertainties.
“The Conference expresses a deep concern about the current state of the judiciary in Nigeria. The conflicting judgments being issued by various courts of the same jurisdiction have created a sense of confusion and frustration among the citizens. Unfortunately, this has led to a loss of trust and confidence in the judiciary.
“The integrity and effectiveness of our legal system are essential for maintaining public trust and upholding the rule of law. We believe that the Judicial Service Commission has the responsibility and authority to make the necessary reforms to restore faith in the judiciary.
“That, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not allow his Government to be used in the manipulative scheme of interfering with judicial processes in courts involving cases of election opposition states, to truncate the Nigerian democracy, an offence that would never be forgiven by the entire democratic communities around the World, and may lead to chaos, more insecurity and conflicts across the country
“The NJC should adhere to the latter ethics and practice of their profession, in accordance with the law, as the custodian of justice and rule of rule
“We acknowledge the efforts of some governors like Sokoto, Borno Kaduna Zamfara, Katsina for their resilience in curtailing the insecurities in their States. However, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, must hold himself and the security agencies accountable, for the ongoing insecurity in the country, and should develop a key performance indicators (KPI) of not more than 6 months, for the security agencies to be assessed for accountability.
“We urge the National Security Adviser to coordinate the synergy between the Service Chiefs for optimal combating of insecurities.
“That, the president should with immediate effect convey a national economic summit for citizens to identify, deliberate and proffer solutions to the Nigerian economic situation.
“That, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must look inward to raise funds for Governance businesses other than borrowings, by squeezing the past and present public officials with corruption allegation to recover the looted funds belonging to Nigerians.
“The Conference is appealing to the Judicial Service Commission to take swift action to thoroughly investigate the root causes of the conflicting judgments and implement measures to ensure the judicial system.”
