“Nigerians must unite to surmount current security challenges”- APC Chieftain

A chieftain of Nigeria’s governing party, the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, says citizens must remain united in the wake of current security challenges confronting some parts of the country.

Addressing State House correspondents after he visited President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC National Leader said all Nigerians need to put aside their religious, political or ethnic differences and cooperate with security agents to surmount the problem.

He said: “Yes, every nation will go through these curves and difficult times but what matters is how we communicate it to the people and what are the areas to make it easier for the people to bear; those are ideas we have to be able to exchange with the leadership of the country.

“It calls for coming together to reduce banditry, move for unity and be able to bring a better Nigeria to the people because the welfare of our people is extremely important. This also calls for cooperation and understanding, effective security and effective giving of information.”

Tinubu stated that President Buhari has the interest of all Nigerians at heart and would not like to see them facing difficulties.

“There is no President who will want to see his country in chaos nor is there anyone who will want to see his citizens exposed to banditry and danger. No President or a leader that will want to see his nation fractured in tribalism or religious differences and others.

The current challenges call for serious management, evaluation and dialogue once in a while,” he said.

The APC chieftain used the opportunity to assure Nigerians that President Buhari respects the Nigerian constitution and will vacate office at the expiration of his tenure, adding that the APC is loved by Nigerians and has bright chances of ruling the country beyond 2023.

He said: “The chances are as bright as a midnight star and we will continue to work for a better Nigeria. We cannot interject politics and assumption in everything; we have a nation to build.

“We have a baton to pass. You can depend on Buhari that he will not spend one hour beyond his tenure. He will comply with the constitution.”

Insurgency in the north-east
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, who also paid a visit to the President, told Journalists that he was in the State House to brief the Nigerian leader on recent happenings in the North-East region.

Zulum expressed deep condolences to the families of soldiers who recently lost their lives in the fight against terrorists in the North-East.

“Let me use this opportunity to extend my condolences to the families of the deceased. I think it is my own responsibility to come and say the truth to the President, to let him know what is going on in the entire North-East sub-region.

“I think there is a need for us to get support in order for us to succeed in this war against insurgents. It is very pathetic; a few days ago, Damasak (in Borno State) was attacked, hundreds of people started fleeing Damasak and now, Gaidam (in Yobe State) is almost deserted because many people have left Gaidam”, he said.

Nneka Ukachukwu