Lagos-based socio-political activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has berated Defence Minister, Bashir Salihi Magashi, for calling on Nigerians to defend themselves against the un-ending atrocities of bandits and other heinous criminals ravaging the country.
In a statement in Lagos, Chief Onitiri said the Minister’s directive is an admission that the APC government has failed woefully in its constitutional duty of protecting Nigerians and their property.
The social critic pointed out that the APC was elected into power on the three points to provide security for all Nigerians, fight corruption and improve the economy of the nation.
But unfortunately, according to him, the APC government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari has failed on all the three fronts and the honorable thing is for the government to resign and order for election.
He emphasised that the major responsibility of any responsible government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens and failure to do this, it has no constitutional mandate to remain in power.
“The Minister of Defence, has just said that Nigerians should defend themselves against insurgents and bandits. We wonder with what.
“Is he saying that the Federal Government is now helpless and can no longer defend us? Is he calling for anarchy or asking the citizens to take up arms to fight the bandits.
“We demand that the government should license every citizen to carry arms, especially Ak47 rifle,” Chief Onitiri stated.
He noted that during the debate at the National Assembly, it was resolved that the federal government should declare a state of Emergency on security in Nigeria as the insecurity in the nation has gotten to crisis level.
“Our children are no longer safe in schools. Children and parents are abducted and kidnapped for ransom. Our girls and women are raped, maimed and killed at will. Nigerian lives are no longer worth that of a cow. While all these crimes go on, our security agents look the other way.
“Even failed security chiefs are being rewarded for their failure. A reasonable Nigerian would read a clear indictment in the call for a state of emergency of our NASS.
“In other words what this implies is that the Assembly is passing a vote of no confidence on the Buhari administration,” he said.