As per the Vanguard article, President Bola Tinubu issued a strong warning to non-state actors, including bandits, kidnappers, and armed robbers, on Wednesday. He assured them of severe repercussions for the agony they have caused to the people of Nigeria. At a two-day summit in Ikeja, Lagos, Tinubu spoke. The event was arranged by the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM), a coalition of 130 pan-Yoruba-Itsekiri groups.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media Matters, Mr. Tunde Rahman, President Tinubu condemned the harmful activities of non-state actors within Nigeria’s political landscape. He emphasized that while some of these groups have had a positive impact, others have caused significant harm and must be dealt with decisively.
“Non-state actors who have subjected our people to hardship and misery, who have killed, wounded, and held our people hostage because they wield lethal weapons, should be strongly condemned,” Tinubu stated.
He further declared, “Those who use force of arms to perpetrate evil and cause mayhem should be made to face the consequences of their actions. I’m talking here of bandits, kidnappers, militia groups, armed robbers, and other criminals who daily terrorize our people. They do not represent us and should be exterminated.”
The president also acknowledged the contributions of some non-state actors who have played a positive role, particularly in protecting national assets. “However, some non-state actors are doing the positive, though some have criticized them for doing what otherwise should be the exclusive responsibility of our security agents if they are to live up to their billing. I’m referring to those who protect our pipelines from attack and vandalism, which we must at least acknowledge for making a positive contribution to the country. Those are the two divides and ways I perceive the non-state actors in our society,” he added.
Addressing the economic challenges facing the nation, President Tinubu admitted that Nigerians are enduring difficult times but reassured the public that the situation is gradually improving. “Let me assure you that things are gradually improving. The statistics show this. Our economic indicators are strong. As you may have noticed from the inflation figure I quoted earlier, inflation is coming down. Significantly, the Central Bank of Nigeria has also restored stability to the financial sector,” he stated.
The summit’s theme, Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: The Role of Non-State Actors, provided a platform for discussing the impact of these groups on the country’s democratic development. In his opening remarks, Mr. Adewale Adeoye, Chairman of the occasion, highlighted the importance of supporting democracy, noting that it is not about those in power but about the right of the people to choose, question, and engage their leaders democratically.
Adeoye further commented on the challenges facing the nation, stating, “I am aware the process of even choosing the right leaders by the people in Nigeria is flawed, nevertheless, it does not in any way justify the call for military intervention in Nigeria.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
