Abuja: Peace, Security and Development Initiatives (PSDI), a Civil Society Organisation, has urged Nigerians to stop politicising the prevailing security challenges bedeviling the country. The Publicity Secretary of PSDI, Amechi Oyema, made the call while briefing newsmen on the state of the nation with the theme ‘Unholy Attempt to Politicise Security Challenges’.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oyema stated that President Bola Tinubu had continued to provide the necessary support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies to enable them to fulfill their mandates. He alleged that some politicians had chosen to politicise the security challenges, expressing concern that they would prefer the crisis to persist and worsen.
Oyema highlighted recent incidents to illustrate his point. He mentioned the condemnation by a prominent politician of the lynching of 16 Kano-bound hunters in Uromi and the subsequent demand for a probe. In contrast, the same politician criticized Tinubu’s security architecture following the massacre of 60 villagers in Plateau, implying a double standard in their approach to security issues.
Further, Oyema cited the rescue of the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), retired Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, as an example of successful intervention by the Armed Forces. However, instead of acknowledging this success, certain individuals chose to portray the government and the Armed Forces as failures.
He urged politicians to refrain from demoralising the troops who are making sacrifices to ensure national safety. According to him, some politicians would rather see the country in turmoil to create opportunities to criticize the administration. He called for statesmanship and support for the armed forces in defeating the country’s adversaries.
Oyema noted that terrorists, bandits, and other criminals are surrendering in large numbers, while those who resist are being eliminated. He advised youths to avoid negative influences and resist being used by politicians, reminding them of the military’s readiness to handle any challenges. He concluded by quoting Brig.-Gen. Tsiga, emphasizing the collective responsibility in addressing security challenges: “We should not sit down and believe that the government can do it alone. We must do it ourselves.”