Chieftain of the All Progressives’ Congress, (APC) and Director General, Progressives’ Governors’ Forum, (PGF) Salihu Moh. Lukman has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to work towards completely eradicating the scourge of insecurity in the country before the set party national convention date in February, 2022....CONTINUE READING
He also said the menace has forced to total decline farming activities, causing more hardship for the people and drastically reducing the nation’s Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR).
Lukman in a statement on Sunday, titled: ‘Issues for Successful APC National Convention’ noted that there is no doubt; Nigeria needs more military personnel, just like the country needs more police personnel.
Some security experts have suggested that to end the war against Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, there is the need to deploy not less than 200,000 ground troupes.
Now, there is less than 50,000 ground troupes in the whole of the North-East, which is partly responsible for the inability to hold on to liberated territories after defeating Boko Haram insurgents.
He also stated that because of insecurity, farming activities is on the decline saying; “For the last three years, many farm owners have become absentee farmers. Those who have valid Certificate of Occupancy for their farmland are required to pay ground rent to retain ownership.
Ability of government to succeed in resolving the current national security challenge will be dependent on the capacity of Nigerians to support government, mobilize all financial resources required to recruit, train, fund and provide arms to all Nigerian security services.
How much sacrifices Nigerians at all levels are ready to make will determine how quickly government can succeed.
The APC Chieftain and former NLC Leader further stated that as a party, “we need to do everything necessary to refocus national debates towards strengthening the initiatives of President Buhari led government to produce desired outcome of securing the country.
Strengthening the capacity of APC led Federal Government to produce desired outcome, in the short run, is about massive recruitment of police and military personnel in the country, in addition to the investment that has been made towards procurement of arms, including the A-29 Tucano jets.
As a party preparing for its National Convention in February 2022, we must appeal to APC leaders to include debate about what needs to be done by all APC government to mobilize support of Nigerians, bring to an immediate end the current national security challenge in the country.
Recommendations that emerge from the Convention should guide the process of reviewing the APC’s manifesto. Unlike other parties, including the PDP, APC must continue to set the needed political agenda, drive process of mobilizing Nigerians for change.
As a party envisioned to be social democratic, the issue of massive mobilisation of financial investment towards development of education and health sectors in Nigeria must also be debated at the Convention.
Having demonstrated political commitment towards infrastructural development, which has led to the revival of rail transportation and reconstruction of road networks in the country, APC must initiate the rebirth of public education and public health in the country through similar massive investment to build new schools and hospitals, rehabilitate old ones, mass recruitment of teachers and provision of teaching materials.
APC leaders must focus on planning for its February National Convention towards mobilizing support of Nigerians to contribute in every way necessary, including making personal sacrifices to create New Nigeria, every citizen desire.
The New Nigeria will be a product of collective responsibility, shared values and sacrifices, therefore, guaranteed security and abundant wealth.
The PGF Director General added that once the debate at APC Convention in February is limited to who emerged as leaders of the party without addressing these fundamental issues, “the ability of APC to mobilize Nigerians to build a New Nigeria would have been sacrificed.
