Find Lasting Solution to Insecurity, Hardship CAN, Anglican Church, Yoruba Leaders Tell FG

*Ooni caucus calls for location of military base in Ekiti to stop menace 

*Joins calls for creation of state police

John Shiklam in Kaduna, Peter Uzoho and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called on the federal government to find a lasting solution to the prevailing economic hardship and insecurity facing Nigerians.

Equally, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has also expressed concern over the rising spate of insecurity in Nigeria, as well as its burgeoning debt profile, saying, external borrowing exposes the country to risk of high exchange rate.
Also, following the recent kidnap and brutal killing of some traditional rulers and students in Ekiti and Kwara states and the general insecurity in the region, a pan-Yoruba protectionist group, the Ooni Caucus, has called on the federal government to urgently locate a military base in Ekiti to assist the existing security establishments to end the menace.

In a statement in Kaduna, yesterday, Secretary General of Northern CAN, Elder Sunday Oibe, called for urgent steps to address the rising cost of foodstuffs, transportation and essential goods and services.
The Christian body also decried the widespread of insecurity across the country occasioned by killings and abduction by bandits. It expressed sadness over the recent invasion of communities in Plateau State which led to killings and destruction of property.
Oibe also condemned the establishment of a vigilante outfit by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Nasarawa State, warning that allowing a tribal security outfit was an invitation to crisis.

“Northern CAN wishes to express its deep concern over the prevailing economic hardship and the increasing security challenges across the country. The suffering in the country is becoming unbearable for ordinary Nigerians.
“High cost of foodstuffs, transportation, goods and services have made life difficult for many Nigerians. The epileptic power supply has led to the collapse of small businesses. The continued decline in the value of the naira and the seeming inability of the government to address the situation has completely weakened the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians,” the statement noted.

Oibe added, “The situation is further compounded by escalating insecurity occasioned by rampant killings and kidnapping for ransom. Government must take urgent steps to address the depressing economic and escalating security situation in the country.”
Northern CAN also noted the rampaging activities of bandits in Plateau State and other parts of the country in recent times and called on the government to do everything possible to end the carnage.

The statement further stated, “These killings have continued because the perpetrators have never been brought to justice.
“Unless justice is done, by ensuring that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to book, all the talks about peace may be mere rhetorics.”
The statement, however, commended security agencies for their sacrifices and patriotism in ensuring that these criminal elements are flushed out and urged them not to relent in their efforts to crush them.

Oibe advised that the security architecture be reviewed for effective and decisive action.
The statement further called on governments at all levels to support the security agencies with all that is required to fight banditry and terrorism.
“Northern CAN also noted with concern, the inauguration of a security outfit by a tribal group,  Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Nasarawa State.
“We find the establishment of the security outfit by a group, which some of its members are being accused of banditry and kidnapping across the country very disturbing.

“Northern CAN wishes to state in strong terms that allowing any ethno-cultural group to set up a security outfit, is an invitation to anarchy.”
Meanwhile, in a separate statement signed by the spokesperson, Anglican Church in Nigeria, Folu Olamiti, the Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria, Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba, while addressing delegates at the just concluded Standing Committee Meeting of the church in Ika Delta State, said apart from the worsening insecurity in Nigeria the church is also worried about the “not too good state of the nation’s economy, especially the debt profile.”
He said, “It was a grave concern that debt servicing had increased to N11 trillion and surpassed both recurrent and budgetary expenditures.
“Our debt profile has increased from $63 billion to over $120 billion by the end of the year 2023, with 96 per cent of revenues now going to just debt service alone.”

The Primate described it as frightening as it would limit the funds available for critical sectors “like healthcare, education and infrastructure.”
He therefore called on the leadership of the country to quickly address this development as it could hinder the government’s ability to effectively implement its development agenda.
He also reminded those in power that, “the reliance on external borrowing exposes the Nigerian economy to exchange rate risks. It is already having a negative effect on our battered Naira currently exchanging at N1,420 to $1.

“Another negative effect of high debt level is the potential to erode investor confidence, particularly among foreign investors, resulting in capital flight, thereby negatively impacting the Nigerian stock market and overall economic stability.
“Continuous borrowing contributes to inflationary pressures in the economy because as the government injects more money in circulation, it drives up prices, affecting the cost of living for ordinary citizens.”

In a related development, the Ooni Caucus, also called on the federal government to urgently locate a military base in Ekiti to assist the existing security establishments to end the menace.
Rising from its extraordinary meeting held on February 4, 2024, which focused on addressing the emergency crisis of insecurity and kidnapping in the South-west, the Ooni Caucus also joined the urgent calls for a constitutional amendment towards the decentralisation of the Nigerian police with the specific objective of enabling the creation of state and community based policing.

The Caucus, in communique jointly signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Akin Osuntokun and General Secretary, Dr Yomi Layinka, equally demanded that other notable pro-Yoruba communal security groups such as that of Sunday Igboho group should be encouraged and energised for the protection and defence of the region.

At the meeting, the Caucus extended its heartfelt sympathy to the families, communities and the people and government of Ekiti State on the brutal and abominable killings of traditional rulers, including the Oba of Koro in Kwara State; the horrific kidnappings of school children and their mentors and the recent violent assault on the peace, security and corporate integrity of Ekiti State, the South-west and indeed all the six geopolitical zones.
 The Caucus said it awaits the outcome of investigations into these reprehensible and criminally insane acts, demanding that the culprits should be subjected to the wrath of law to its fullest extent.

According to the communique, “The Ooni Caucus requests the location of a Military Base to reinforce the extant security apparatus in the state, which had proven woefully inadequate.

“The Caucus joined the urgent calls for a constitutional amendment towards the decentralisation of the Nigerian police with the specific objective of enabling the creation of state and community based policing. The decentralisation should be complemented with the cooperation and collaboration of ex-servicemen i.e. retirees from the Police, Military and Paramilitary Forces.

“We call for the enhancement of the capabilities of the local law enforcement agencies domiciled in the 774 Local Government Areas through the office of the Divisional Police Officers.”

The Caucus commended the establishment of the Amotekun, the Pan South West Zonal security outfit and its conspicuous accomplishment in its short existence regardless of acutely inadequate resources at its disposal.

It appealed to the state governments of the South-west zone to double down on this initiative with the provision of ample resources and logistics support.

The Caucus said it equally deemed the “activation of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) as of the essence and urgent imperative.”

The communique further said, “Other notable pro-Yoruba communal security groups apart from OPC and Amotekun ,such as the one led by Chief Sunday Igboho, should be equally encouraged and energised towards the strategic protection and defence of the Yoruba Region.

“There is the need to highlight the specific responsibilities of the government, communities and the private sector in the onerous task of securing our nation and its communities. The economic dimension to security calls for economic interventions, especially skills development and job creation schemes to stem security threats arising from socioeconomic factors.

“We call on the South-west political leaders to stimulate and encourage community-based security initiatives across every hamlet, village and town in Yorubaland. We need to protect our borders, as well as identify and secure all our ungoverned spaces, especially forests and public utilities.”

However, the Caucus urged leading lights and critical stakeholder groups from across the length and breadth of the Yoruba region to “snap out of their self-destructive complacency and indifference regarding the security of Yorubaland before it is too late.”

It maintained that such people should regularly liaise and consult with South-west governors to identify current security threats and articulate remedial actions.

Also, it called on the royal fathers and leaders of traditional institutions in the region to hold mandatory meetings among themselves to discuss and mutually agree actions that would promote and defend the Yoruba heritage.

“They need to be sensitised and alert to the risks of harmful land and property ownership practices that render Yoruba communities vulnerable to external threat and subversion.

“In view of their strategic utility in the peace and security of their domains, we call for the strengthening and empowerment of the traditional rulers.

“The institution must enjoy a level of autonomy commensurate with the huge responsibility they bear in the local communities,” the Caucus stated.

In addition, it said the region needed to begin to name and shame those individuals and institutions that had been found guilty of compromising and sabotaging Yoruba interests for parochial and selfish reasons.

The Caucus noted that it was incumbent on all Yoruba leaders to regularly embark on regular campaigns to educate citizens on security issues and the need to be vigilant and prepared to effectively grapple with security threats and challenges.

The communique added, “We do not know for certain the security status of Mr Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho. We hold the view that he does not constitute a threat to the peace and stability of Nigeria in any way. He should, therefore, be accorded the freedom, rights, and privileges that are due to every Nigerian citizen. If he is not in Nigeria, he should feel free to return home at a time of his choosing

“Finally, we find the need to prompt and remind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeem his pledge of support towards the decentralisation and devolution of powers in Nigeria.”