Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
Pan Niger Delta group, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has criticised the new security measures announced by President Mohammadu Buhari for the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones.
A statement issued by the group’s National Vice-President, Comrade Thompson Fuoye on Thursday, said the recent security skirmishes in the South-South and South-East are not enough reason to warrant the planned deployment of troops.
Fuoye noted that idea of sending military to the region is a ploy by the FG to continue to maim and harrass innocent citizens going about their lawful businesses, saying that the military in their characteristics manner of operating often destroy properties, rape women and girls in the guise of looking for criminals.
He advised the president to instead channel his energy on the Northern part of the country Boko Haram has taken over territories, herdsmen are sacking communities and banditry has become a thriving business.
He further advised the President to design a proper security framework to tackle the insecurity that is currently ravaging the Northern part of the country rather than planning to send military to the regions.
“We MOSIEND condemned in its entirety the idea of Mr. President sending federal troops to the South-South and South-East regions. The new security measures are against the people of these regions.
“He should first deal with the security challenges in the Northern part of the country which is threatening the existence of the country.
“He should design a proper security framework for the people in the North-East and North-Central and the North-West where kidnapping and banditry has become the order of the day.
“The fact that we have a little crisis in Imo, Owerri or Orlu and some parts of Rivers State is not enough reason to send troops to the South-South and South-East regions so that these military will start maiming and destroying properties and raping our women who are going about their lawful businesses.
“Mr. President should first cleanse the Northern part of the country where they are killing people every day before he sends troops to the regions.” MOSIEND stated.
Fuoye applauded the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his foresight in hosting the Southern Governors Forum which took far reaching resolutions which are germane to the survival of the people of the region.
The National Vice-President of MOSIEND while also commending the Governors of the Southern states for calling on the FG to convoke a national dialogue, restructuring of the country and enforcement of the ban on open grazing in the South, however urged them to be firm and resolute to ensure that the resolutions are implemented to the letter.
Though the resolutions issued by the Governors are germane, MOSIEND found it uncomfortable that the statement did not emphasized the point that the Governors would not tolerate any form of insecurity in the guise of Boko Haram, herders or banditry as information available suggest that some persons trying to infiltrate the region with the intention to overrun it.
“We thank the Governors of the Southern states for bringing this meeting to bear and as they go back to their respective states ensure that resolutions are followed to the letter without fear of anybody. They should make sure that any herders found grazing are arrested and prosecuted.
“Subsequently, such statements should be issued early enough so that they will give confidence to the people. It should not be a mere pronouncement, but it must be followed vigorously to the letter,” Fuoye said.
On the withdrawal of the security details of Governors, senators, and other VIPs by the Police, MOSIEND views such order as disrespectful and insulting to the people the region, emphasizing how highly skewed the country has become and an indication that the North has an agenda that is geared towards dominating the South.
“Our stance shows clearly how the country is skewed, it tells you that the Northern system and the Government entirely does not have any respect and regard for the South.
“How can you tell me that you withdraw the security details of Governors, Senators of the South while the Northern Governors and Senators have their security aides intact.
“We are against it; we find it very funny and disrespectful and at the appropriate time we will tell them we will not tolerate this anymore.
“We thank God that the Governors have come out with a statement that what we need is a confab, so we are waiting to hear the response from the federal government then we will know whether we want to live together as a one country,” the MOSIEND National Vice-President concluded.