The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has lamented over the high rate of insecurity in the north, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of failing to tackle the situation.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Sunday, Ango Abdullahi, convener of the forum, said the situation is getting worse by the day. He said the constant attacks by bandits and Boko Haram insurgents are indications that the Buhari administration \u201chas failed woefully\u201d in terms of security and welfare of citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorthern 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,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abdullahi said the north has never experienced this level of insecurity, accusing Buhari of issuing threats and promises that have no effect.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abdulahi said NEF is consulting other groups and organisations which share its goals in order to come up with demands from the government over the \u201cunremitting assault\u201d on the lives and livelihood of northerners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur current circumstances in the North clearly demonstrate that President Buhari\u2019s administration has woefully failed to achieve either.This is unacceptable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has lamented over the high rate of insecurity in the north, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of failing to tackle the situation. In a statement on Sunday, Ango Abdullahi, convener of the forum, said the situation is getting worse by the day. He said the constant attacks by bandits and Boko […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":121515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[110,15,2,4],"tags":[52781,36339,6249,20554],"yoast_head":"\n