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Nigerian Politicians Asked To Stop Politicising Insurgency

A member of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr Akin Osuntokun has advised politicians not to play politics with the security situation in Nigeria.  Mr Osuntokun, … Continue reading Nigerian Politicians Asked To Stop Politicising Insurgency


AKIN OSUNTOKUNA member of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr Akin Osuntokun has advised politicians not to play politics with the security situation in Nigeria. 

Mr Osuntokun, who was a guest on Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, on Friday,  said the problem of insurgency in Nigeria should now be looked at from the perspective of ideology, as the incessant bombing in Nigeria was as a result of some persons propagating anarchy, imputing instability to the system and making wide claims about the situation.

“I don’t like to say this as I sympathise with what happened to General Buhari; However, when you look at the statement he made two days before the bomb attack on him.

“They are the kind of things that create volatile situation as many of the things he said are things that can incite anyone who has cause to be angry with the nation and he shouldn’t have said them,” Mr Osuntokun pointed out.

In his opinion, all Nigerians should have a say on the security situation in the land but things shouldn’t be said that will build a crisis of malice amongst people.

“Every Nigerian should have an opinion on the incessant bomb blast, as it is something we now live with. We should pray as we are at a dead end on the situation.

“However, utterances should be guided, as they give room for all these kind of things to fester.”

According to Mr Osuntokun, people should not go around to make allegations that are not true which may turn out to be self-fulfilled prophesies.

On the wave of impeachment in the nation, Mr Osuntokun alienated the Presidency from it, stressing that “the decision lies in the hands of the people of the affected state and the PDP do not have any reason to salvage the APC in their states”.

“If you really know what was happening in Adamawa State – referring the the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako – there was nothing the Presidency could have done about the situation there, as it was almost an unanimous decision of the people and it followed due process’’.

On whether the government of the day is reaching out to everyone across board especially other political parties in the fight against terrorism, Mr Osuntokun said the various inter-party meetings and the council of state meeting were a testament of the seriousness of the government in telling everyone, especially the opposition that they were on the same page when it comes to fighting insurgency.

He advised politicians to play a role towards fighting insurgency devoid of party affiliation and polarisation but as statesmen.

“That is why those who should know better should not say things that will deepen and perpetuate the atmosphere of crisis with wide and scurrilous allegations,” he emphasised.

Asked if the statements made by politicians will reduce if people are brought to justice as a result of the investigative process been hastened,  Mr Osuntokun said there was a difference between constructive criticism of the security situation of the country and allegations made  by some persons, reiterating that the best role a politician can play is not to politicise the issue of security as insurgency affects everyone.

“The general security situation does not discriminate whether you are PDP or APC and often times is the ordinary people that bear the consequences,” the ruling party member said.