Senator Ali Ndume has faulted Southern Governors’ ban of open grazing at a meeting held in Asaba yesterday, May 11.
Recall that the Governors met in Asaba, after which they made series of demands which includes President Muhammadu Buhari addressing the country and restructuring.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday May 12, Ndume who is Chairman of Senate Committee on Army claimed that Southern Governors are deviating from the real issue. He also insisted that Nigeria’s security problems is not about open grazing.
Ndume said;
“The governors are deviating from the matter. The problem is not about open grazing. The problem is security. Most of the insecurity problems confronting Nigeria is not in the bush.
“We have four different types of security challenges. We have the insurgency in the North East, IPOB through the Eastern Security Network is creating insecurity in the South East, there is banditry in the North West.
“It is only in the North Central that we have issues of farmers-herders clashes. There is less problem in the South – West except for the clashes between the herdsmen and the farmers and the agitators for the Yoruba nation.
“Similarly, in the South – South, they are trying to instigate the avengers but so far the area is peaceful. The issue of insecurity is unique to each zone.”
Calling for payment of salaries and allowances of military personnel on time, Ndume reiterated that the military must be provided with adequate weapons for the war against insurgency to be won.
He said;
“That means even if they will stop paying us and use the money to tackle security. Is it not when you are secure that you talk of other things? It is not only the politicians but everybody.
“If you know that you cannot move out of your house and they say sacrifice your salary, won’t you do it? Many people are working from home, yet they are being paid. They should stop paying salaries and address the whole issue of insecurity. If you don’t have money, stop paying salaries and allowances and use the money to provide security.
“If you are borrowing money to provide infrastructure, why can’t we borrow money to protect our people?”
The lawmaker also commended troops for stopping an attack by Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
Ndume added;
“On Tuesday evening, around 6pm, a group of Boko Haram insurgents wanted to infiltrate Maiduguri but the armed forces responded swiftly and neutralize and repelled the insurgents.
“I understand that most of the insurgents were killed. The Army, Air Force, police and the civilian JTF, played a very significant role in repelling the insurgents. If such reaction from the armed forces is sustained, the insurgents would be repelled whenever they surface anywhere in the North-East.”
