The Lawmaker representing Anac/Bwari Federal Constitutuency, Josua Chinedu Obika has called for the collaboration of stakeholders to solve the problem of insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
He made the call during an interview with voice of Nigeria, in Abuja.
He said that the insecurity in the FCT has been expected following the attacks in neighbouring states and towns.
“The insecurity in the FCT is like when you see a tree bearing fruits, it is expected that the fruits will ripe and eventually fall. So, the problem of insecurity in the FCT, every right thinking person that is an administrator knows that it is a problem waiting to happen.
“When you heard of attacks of banditry and kidnappings in Nasarawa, in Niger state, in Kogi, in Kaduna, what are you expecting? Eventually, it will come on us here. It will end up in Abuja. Most people from these states that they can kidnap that can pay ransom have all ran away from those states. And where are they? In Abuja.So, criminals go to their banks. Abuja is like the bank of the kidnappers now. When everybody has left the state where they can get them and now they are here.
“They are now taking the boldness to come down here to get them. That’s why in the center of Abuja, Even in Kurudu Estate that is an Army scheme where you expect that criminals will think twice before they give down to a place like that. And they can still go to a place where retired generals live to go and kidnap, what would happen to our rural communities? Our rural communities are deserted. And this is happening under the seat of power,” Obika said.
He said that the situation calls for concern as Abuja houses heads of government agencies, Parliamentarians, embassies and foreign missions as well as the diplomatic community.
“If any of these diplomats is picked today, that is the end. Every embassy will call their people back. Then how can we say that we are still in charge. The fight to rescue Abuja from the hands of the kidnappers is a fight this government must fight with all their strength. I’m not saying that it is only Abuja that should be safe. Something should be done in every part of this country,” he said.
He noted that his constituents are under siege.
The Lawmaker also pointed out the FCT needs to fight crime with infrastructure.
He said that the security agencies in the FCT need more personnel and gadgets such as drones for surveillance and to function well.
He said that there was the need to build access roads in the rural areas to ease easy movement as well as police stations to fight crime.
Obike lamented that all efforts to reach the minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike to discuss how to combat crimes in the FCT has not yielded any results.
“I have written the minister severally. I have even written that I want to pay him a courtesy visit. It’s unfortunate I know the work load that he has is much, but that not withstanding, as the member representing Amac/Bwari Area Council, who do you listen to? You listen to? You listen to the representative of the people.
“We are voted by the people to represent them, to present their problems to the minister and the minister should be able to listen to us. I know his work load is much but what work load that is more than giving listening ear to the representative of the people? This is democracy,” he noted.
He said that as the representative of the people, they need the minister to work with them to achieve results.
Obika stressed that the time for politicking is over and that all hands must be on deck to rescue the FCT.
“I know that he has the capacity to work. I know that Wike will work, but we need his Corporation, as the representative of the people. We need our minister to work with us.I’m not here to attack anybody.When it comes to administration, we should remove everything that has to do with party politics. We are talking about governance. Everyone is needed. I need my minister to work with me,” he said.
Obike also said that on resumption of the House of Representatives, he would move a motion for Abuja to be given a special status in the area of security as what it takes to guard Abuja is different from other states.
He added that his focus is on the security of Abuja and the development of satellite towns in the FCT.
Confidence Okwuchi
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