SDP Asks Buhari to Resign over Insecurity

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to find a lasting solution to the insecurity crises in the country or resign.

This was made know in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Alfa Mohammed.

The SDP called on President Buhari to either solve the insecurity crises in the country or resign, stating that with the wanton destruction of lives and properties across the country especially in Jos and Kaduna, it has brought to the fore the President’s incompetence in safeguarding lives and properties of Nigerians.

“The incessant wanton destruction of lives and property in states across the country, especially Kaduna and Plateau States which are presently caught in a renewed violence, has further brought to the fore, the incompetence of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in carrying out one of its key constitutional role of safeguarding the lives of citizens of this country.

“Leaving the lives of innocent Nigerians at the mercy of frustrated, wicked and heartless men for years amounts either to total disregard for the sanctity of the lives of the citizens or lack of capacity to find lasting solutions to the crisis”, SDP said.

Going further the party said the situation is unacceptable to the party as the people’s alternative choice,

He added, “The situation is unacceptable to us as the people’s alternative political platform for building a safe and prosperous Nigeria.

“The Social Democratic Party (SDP) joins well meaning Nigerians and organisations to collectively condemn this dastardly acts and therefore demands that Mr. President should take urgent steps to arrest the ravaging insecurity or consider stepping aside for the failure of his government to make the country safe for the citizenry since he was elected for the task over three years ago.”

The party advised all security agencies to apply the rules of engagement whenever they are engaging civilians to reduce the number of casualties during civil protest.

According to him, “SDP enjoins the Nigerian Security organisations to always apply rule of engagement in their attempts to control the conducts of civil protesters.

“We feel that the number of casualties recorded during the security agents’ encounter with Shiite religious sect protests in two Abuja suburbs, Zuba and Mararaba could have been avoided if rules of engagement with civilians were observed adequately.

“Although we commend the efforts of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies at securing lives and property, we demand that innocent lives be protected at all cost and at all times. In the same vein, the Shias and of course every civil society willing to engage in peaceful protest should always do so within the ambits of law.”