Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has decried the rising insecurity in Nigeria, saying that the international community has the right to come and help Nigeria tackle insecurity.
The former president said that since the government has failed to protect the lives and property of its citizens, they have the right to turn to the international community for help
Speaking at the 2nd edition of the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carols in Jos on Friday, the former president decried the sectionalisation of the killings, saying whether its Christians or Muslims that are killed, it’s Nigerians that are being killed.
The former president said, “In this country, one trouble we have, one problem we have, is the problem of insecurity. And it has been with us, not beginning with this administration, not even with the administration before it.
“I believe the mindless killing, kidnapping, and banditry that we have experienced since the kidnapping of the Chibok girls continued to go from bad to worse.
“The first responsibility of any government is the protection and security of its citizens. And for anybody, at any time, anywhere, saying that when we are being killed as Nigerians, all you will say is that those that have been killed, another group also have been killed. Is that an explanation?
“I believe that is nonsensical. We are being killed. We Nigerians, no matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, no matter what profession, we Nigerians are being killed.
“And our government seems to be incapable of protecting us. We are part of the world community. If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us.
“And for anybody to say because those who have been killed belong to this region, belong to that religion, belong to this tribe, and then others too are being killed, cannot be an acceptable excuse.
“If we are being killed, it is the responsibility of the government to do something about it.
“The government should stop the killing of Nigerians, no matter what religion they belong to, no matter what part of the world they belong to, no matter what tribe they belong to. We are being killed. And the killing of Nigerians should be stopped.
“We have the right as Nigerians to appeal to international community to help where the government cannot help us. And we should have no apology for that.
“Those apologists who are saying, well, those who are killing these types of people, and then they are also killing the other type of people, that is not acceptable. And nobody should accept that.
“We will pray and we will continue. But when we pray, we should also walk. We should do what we have to do. We should ask the government to do what it has to do, at all levels.
We should ask our leaders to do what they have to do, at all levels, in all walks of life, to preserve life in this country.
“And we should also, because we are part of the world community, we should also appeal to the international community.”
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, while welcoming the people, said that “the Christmas season is a time that fills our heart with joy, love, and the spirit of togetherness. It reminds us of the essence of our faith, the birth of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ whose coming brought light, hope, and redemption of a weary world.”
President, Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and Chairman, Church Denomination Heads Forum, Rev. Amos Musa Mohzo, said that despite the present security challenges, Nigeria must overcome because God is on the throne.
He appreciated Mutfwang for putting the second edition of the programme together the second edition of the programme
Credit: The Sun