Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to first tackle insecurity in Nigeria before going to help other African countries.
The NLC Chairman in Abia State, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, who spoke during the nationwide protest against insecurity on Wednesday, accused Tinubu and other Nigerian leaders of treating the issue of insecurity with levity.
He regretted that while Nigeria is besieged by terrorists, the President is fighting coup plotters in other countries.
“While Nigeria is on fire, its leaders are chasing rats,” the NLC lamented.
Comrade Ogbonnaya challenged President Tinubu to rise to the challenge of insecurity in Nigeria, arguing that there is no justification for allowing innocent Nigerians to be killed by terrorists.
“The Nigerian government has left the big clog in its eyes to remove the small pebble in the eyes of other countries in West Africa.
“That is why the Nigeria Labour Congress is saying that enough is enough. Insecurity is ravaging Nigeria, but our President chose to get approval from the Senate to go and fight insecurity in Niger Republic, Togo, Benin Republic, Mali, and other West African countries while his home is burning.
“We challenge Nigerian leaders to live up to expectations. They should first of all tackle the issue of insecurity in Nigeria before looking elsewhere.
“People are being murdered in their thousands every day. Nigerians are being kidnapped in their thousands. This is happening all over the country — in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Benue, the South-South, the South-East — and everywhere.
“Mr President cannot turn a deaf ear or pretend he doesn’t see what is happening. Why pay lip service to security challenges in Nigeria and go to other countries to defend their integrity while the territorial integrity of Nigeria is under threat by terrorists?
“The Federal Government should stand on its feet and defend this nation. Enough is enough. Enough of bandits. Enough of terrorism. Enough of all these jackals that have entered Nigeria from different nations. We don’t need them.
“The NLC is no longer comfortable with the security situation in Nigeria. Mr President should sit up and take the bull by the horns. Nigeria is the giant of Africa. Why is she not a giant in her own home?
“Before going to other West African countries, let the President first tackle insecurity in Nigeria. If this place is on fire, the President will have no place to come back to after going to other countries to fight insecurity.”
The NLC argued that any responsible government must prioritise five cardinal points: security, food, health, education, and infrastructural development, but regretted that the Federal Government had not shown commitment to addressing them.
“If these things are lacking in a country, then that country is doomed,” he declared.
“And that is why we are saying: let our President squarely tackle insecurity. We have all it takes. If Nigeria could fight apartheid in South Africa in the past, there is no reason it cannot fight insecurity in Nigeria.
“The lives of Nigerian citizens should be paramount above anything else. It is more important than anything because it is only when you are alive that you can walk on good roads or even eat good food.”
The NLC, however, commended Governor Alex Otti for his efforts in tackling insecurity in the state and for his strides in infrastructural development, education, health, and other sectors.
“The Governor is doing well in education, infrastructure, health, and even security. Abia is safe compared to other states.”
Responding, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokocha, who received the protesters on behalf of Governor Alex Otti, thanked them for their peaceful conduct and assured them that their message would be conveyed to the Presidency through the Governor.
He also thanked the protesters for acknowledging the efforts of the Abia State Government in addressing insecurity and other challenges in the state.
He noted with concern the disturbing insecurity in Nigeria but assured that the government would not allow criminals to overrun the country.
The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions such as: “End Insecurity before it Ends Us All”; “Protect Farmers and Farms;” “Lives of Nigerians Matter;” among others.
