*PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CONVENER OF THE NEW NIGERIA GROUP, MAZI SAM OHUABUNWA ON THE 22ND OF APRIL 2021 – THE WORSENING SECURITY CRISES IN OUR COUNTRY: TIME TO DE-ESCALATE AND CONVOKE A NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY*

Hear this from the Channels TV 10pm News last night (21st April 2021):

BANDITS ATTACK FOUR ZAMFARA VILLAGES, KILL 30 LOCALS
BANDITS KILL ONE, RAZE MILITARY CAMP IN NIGER
GUNMEN KILL TWO OFFICERS IN ATTACK ON ENUGU POLICE STA-TION
ONE KILLED DURING ATTACK ON PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN KADUNA
GUNMEN ATTACK PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN KADUNA, KIDNAP STU-DENTS!!!

This was only yesterday. Similar news was a day before, a week before, a month before and many many months earlier, and it will not be unreasonable to expect similar news tomorrow. If this is not tending to anarchy, I need someone to tell me what is happening. If this does not resemble a Nation at war with itself then tell me what it looks like.

*TROUBLE IN THE LAND*

We have been traveling this road for many years now. First, we called it BOKO HARAM, THEN THEY BECAME BANDITS, AND THEN KIDNAPPERS. SOON THEY BECAME MILITANT FULANI HERDSMEN AND LATER IPOB!

First it was in the NORTH EAST, THEN MOVED TO THE NORTH WEST, LATTER TO THE NORTH CENTRAL THEN UNTO SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-SOUTH, AND NOW SOUTH EAST!!

*FLAWED SOLUTION*

With fire spreading all over Nigeria, many Nigerians think the solution is: DEPLOY MORE POLICE, CREATE COMMUNITY POLICING, DEPLOY MORE SOLDIERS, GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE, GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE ARMY, BUY MORE ARMS & MILITARY EQUIPMENT.

Others prescribe more ethnic or religious militias: More Amotekun, more hisbah, more Ebubeagu, more vigilante, more hunters and more private security outfits, every day large catch of arms and ammunition are imported and some smuggled into this country to arm all these state and non-state actors who are agents of violence. Soon everyone will be bearing arm in Nigeria, and the end may be worse than the beginning.

*TIME TO TAKE A BIG BREATH & THINK*

These worsening security crises call for the attention of all good people in the Coun-try. We cannot continue to watch helplessly or pour more fuel into the fire as our Nation gets ripped apart. Our Country has never been this divided since the Nigerian Civil War. Our ordinarily fragile economy is suffering seriously as a result of the fear in the land and the uncertainty that reigns. We cannot grow the economy, create more jobs and wealth without investment, especially Foreign. And as the President remarked recently: NO NORMAL FOREIGN INVESTOR CAN BRING HIS MONEY INTO A COUNTRY THAT CAN NOT GUARANTEE SAFETY OF LIVES & PROP-ERTY. Furthermore, the President in a demonstration of admirable candor admitted recently THAT THE BEST EFFORT OF GOVERNMENT ON SECURITY HAS PROVEN NOT TO BE GOOD ENOUGH. As a patriot and leader, I wish to add my voice on how we can save our country from this path of self-destruction.

I really do not think that this call for full militarization of our country will solve the problem in a sustainable manner. We are getting overwhelmed by the rise of non-state militant actors and we need to stop trying to TREAT THE FESTERING SYMP-TOMS ONLY BUT TO DEAL WITH THE ROOT CAUSE:

INJUSTICE/INEQUITY/UNFAIRNESS
UNEMPLOYMENT/POVERTY

While it will take some time to fully deal with unemployment and poverty by having and implementing a new and aggressive economic order, we CAN IMMEDIATELY REMOVE ALL THE INJUSTICE, INEQUITY AND UNFAIRNESS IN OUR POLITY. That in my view will help to calm the situation. More police and more army ONLY will not. See how police and army barracks including their personnel are being attacked all over Nigeria, even when we have new Military chiefs and new IGP. See how our government officials at State and Federal are being largely distracted by the bludgeoning insecurity problems across the Nation!

*URGENT CALL*

My call is to request our Political leaders to IMMEDIATELY CONVOKE A NA-TIONAL CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALL THE ETHNIC NATIONALITIES AND FATHERS OF THE NATION TO DISCUSS HOW TO CALM THE NATION, STARTING WITH ADDRESSING ALL ISSUES OF INJUSTICE (Real or Perceived).

*STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE*

For many years, calls for state and community Policing were ignored, now we are arming all kinds of Militia. Let us listen to the Citizens and quickly respond to their needs and worries. It will be cheaper than buying more arms to kill ourselves. Money that should be used to build sorely needed Economic & Social Infrastructure is being wasted on buying arms and other military equipment to kill mostly fellow Nigerians. MAY GOD GRANT OUR LEADERS THE HUMILITY AND WISDOM TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT WILL DE-ESCALATE THESE WORSENING SECURITY CRISES IN OUR NATION.