Insecurity: Nigeria on fire, her leaders chasing rats – NLC

Insecurity: Nigeria on fire, her leaders chasing rats – NLC

By Steve Oko

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has carpeted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Nigerian leaders, accusing them of paying lip services to insecurity ravaging the country.

NLC expressed disappointment that while Nigeria is besieged by terrorists, the President is busy going to other countries to fight coupists.

Speaking during the nation-wide protest march against insecurity on Wednesday at the main entrance gate to Abia Government House Umuahia, NLC Chairman, Abia State, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, regretted that “while Nigeria is on fire, its leaders are chasing rats “.

He challenged President Tinubu to rise to the challenge of insecurity in Nigeria before going to other countries to play ‘Big Brother Africa”.

He said:”The Nigerian Government has left the big clog in its eyes to remove the small pebble in the eyes of other countries in West Africa.

“That is why Nigerian Labour Congress is saying that enough is enough. Insecurity is ravaging Nigeria but our President chose to get the approval from the Senate to go and fight insecurity in Niger Republic, Togo, Benin Republic, Mali and other West African countries while his home is burning.

“We challenge Nigerian leaders to live up to expectations. They should first of all tackle the issue of insecurity in Nigeria before looking elsewhere.

“People are being murdered in their thousands every day. Nigerians are being kidnapped in their thousands. This is happening all over the country – in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, in Nassarawa, Benue, South-South, South-East – and everywhere.

“Mr President cannot pay deaf ear or pretend he doesn’t see what is happening. Why pay lip services to security challenges in Nigeria and going to other countries to defend their integrity while the territorial integrity of Nigeria is under threat by terrorists.

“The federal government should stand to its feet and defend this nation. Enough is enough. Enough of bandits. Enough of terrorism. Enough of all these jackals that have entered into Nigeria from different nations. We don’t need them.

“NLC is no longer comfortable with the security situation in Nigeria. Mr President should sit up and take the bull by the horn. Nigeria is the giant of Africa.
Why is she not giant in its own home?

“Before going to other West African countries, let the President first tackle the insecurity in Nigeria. If this place is on fire, the President will have no place to come back to after going to other countries to fight insecurity.”

NLC argued that any responsibilities Government must prioritize the following five cardinal points: security, food, health, education, and infrastructural development – but regretted that the Federal Government had not shown any commitment to addressing them.

“If these things are lacking in a country, then that country is doomed”, he declared.

“And that is why we are saying: let our President squarely tackle insecurity. We have all it takes. If Nigeria could fight apartheid in South Africa in the past, there is no reason it cannot fight insecurity in Nigeria.

” The lives of Nigerian citizens should be paramount before any other thing. It’s important more than anything else because it is only when you are alive that you walk on good roads or even eat good food.”

NLC, however, commended Gov. Alex Otti for his efforts in tackling insecurity in the state, and “for his strides in infrastructural development, education health and some other sectors.”

“The Governor is doing well in education, infrastructure, health and even security. Abia is safe compared to other states.”

Responding, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokocha, who received the protesters on behalf of Gov. Alex Otti, thanked them for their peaceful comportment, and assured that their message without be conveyed to the presidency via the Governor.

He, also thanked the protesters for acknowledging the efforts of the Abia State Government in addressing insecurity and other challenges in the state.

He noted with concern, the disturbing insecurity in Nigeria but assured that Government would not allow criminals to overrun the country.

The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions such as:”End Insecurity before it Ends Us All”; “Protect Farmers and Farms”; ” Lives of Nigerians Matter”; among others.