The convener of the New Nigeria Group (NNG) and presidential aspirant in the upcoming election in 2023, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, has warned that the current insecurity which the Buhari administration has so far, failed to get under control, will be a child's play compared to what will soon happen if the Presidency continues to ignore concerns raised by agitators in some parts of the country.
Ohuabunwa who made the statement at a press conference held in Lagos, said the country is at the brink of collapse, and that convening a national consultative assembly, could give the country a lifeline.
While decrying recent series of attacks in multiple states: in Zamfara villages, where 30 locals were killed; in Niger State, where a military camp was razed,; a police station in Enugu; and a private university in Kaduna, where students were kidnapped, he said these developments indicate that Nigeria is already at war with itself.
He also cautioned those who think that the solution to the security crises lie in the establishment of more regional and religious militias like Amotekun, Hisbah, and Ebube Agu, among others, saying that the danger in leaving arms in the hands of state and non-state actors is that very soon everybody would be bearing arms in Nigeria, a development he deplored as bad for the country.
"I really don’t think that full militarisation of our country will solve the problem in a sustainable manner. We are daily and gradually getting overwhelmed by the rise of non-state militant actors and we need to stop trying to treat the festering symptoms only, but also to deal with the root causes, which are injustice, unemployment and poverty,’ he said.
"My call is to request our political leaders to immediately convoke a national consultative assembly of all the ethnic nationalities and fathers of the nation to discuss how to calm the nation, starting with addressing all issues of injustice, real or perceived.
"For many years, calls for state and community policing were ignored, but now, we are arming all kinds of militia. Let us listen to the citizens and quickly respond to their needs and worries. It will be cheaper than buying more arms to kill ourselves. Money that should be used to build direly needed economic and social infrastructure is being wasted on buying arms and other military equipment to kill mostly fellow Nigerians."
Meanwhile the Presidency had said no amount of pressure or intimidation will force Buhari into yielding to the demands of agitators.
This was disclosed by the Senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a media interface organised by the APC Professional Group.
He said: “The presidency has been talking and our position is clear: that this country is one, is united and, by the grace of God, will continue to be united.
“Look, one thing with this president is that you can’t intimidate Buhari; you can’t bully him. A lot of these people who are calling for secessions are the problem of this country.
"This thing about secession is, they had used it in the past – you create secession talk to break up Nigeria and then you intimidate the sitting leader and then he opens the booth and he brings money to settle people.
“President Buhari will pay no one. He is not going to pay and now it is clear that having ignored all of that, reasonable opinions are coming from those states and from those regions. The governors in the South-west, we have all heard them; they have denounced all of these things.”
“So it’s a sham, Nigerians want to be one, they want to continue. Yes, there are problems and we are hoping that, as people united and loving of one another, we will come together and solve our problems,” he said.
He said the President will not convene another national conference to discuss the unity of Nigeria, saying, “What can national conference do more than a parliament?"
“We have an elected parliament, whose mandate is to be the custodian of the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.
“Look, a lot of these people crying for this secession, they are unelectable. If you think you are electable, go and contest for a parliamentary seat whether House of Representatives or Senate and come and table an amendment to the constitution.
“The (constitution review) process is ongoing as we speak now under the deputy Senate president. They are calling for memoranda, why can’t you present what you want?" he questioned.