A group, Oduduwa Development Initiative has called for the resignation of the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, the and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle and the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa over the lingering security issues in the country.
It noted that failure to resign, they would face the mother of all protest.
Its National President, Akinyele Olasumbo made the call during an annual press conference on Monday in Abuja, while giving an assessment on some agencies of government including Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He lamented that impunity, corruption, fraud, negligence and indiscipline prevails in the ministries and agencies which has made it impossible to achieve desired growth.
However, the group added that since the appointment of the Commandant General of NSCDC, Abubakar Audi has been proactive and effective in the fight against vandalisation of critical national assets.
The group also noted that the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria under the leadership of Prof. Garba Sharubutu said his commitment to the growth of agriculture in the country.
It added that the NDLEA under the leadership of Buba Marwa, illicit drugs worth billions of dollars has been seized and destroyed, while over 2,000 drug offenders have been arrested, prosecuted and jailed.
The group, however, lamented the lingering security situation in the country.
It stated: “As patriotic citizens of this great nation, we are seriously worried about the sudden increase of kidnapping recently witnessed in the country particularly in the federal capital territory, Abuja.
“The whole scenario is very pathetic and that is why we task President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to look inward and overhaul our security apparatus of the country.”
The group recalled that during Tinubu’s inaugural speech, he clearly stated that there would be no excuse for failure.
It said: “Therefore, Mr President should not hesitate to sack the chief of defence staff and the two ministers of defense. Their incompetence marred in riotous corruption is no longer tolerable.
“In fact, the unprofessionalism, tactical unintelligence and his lack of knowledge to curb the activities of insurgency, kidnapping and banditry has not only caused more deaths of innocent citizens but has put the nation under the control of these rogue elements.
“We panic everyday while trying to make ends meet, nobody is safe anymore, there’s absolute depression and Nigerians no longer sleep at all.
“We want to say that this is not witch hunting but truth must be told and the security of our lives and property are the ultimate reason while we voted for Mr. President.”
The group maintained that somebody must pay for all these security failures and unprecedented recklessness of these insurgents.
It stressed: “We therefore declare that the Chief of Defense Staff and the Ministers of defence must resign now or face the mother of all protest. To before warn is to before harm.”