Insecurity: Dialogue Will Empower Bandits To Take Over Nigeria – Onaiyekan

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Immediate past Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Reverend John Onaiyekan has taken a swap at the approach and adoption of dialogue with bandits, warning that if the government continues this way, Nigeria would soon get to a stage where non-state actors will completely take over the country.

Onaiyekan noted that there are already a large gang of criminals that are almost taking over our country owing to the failure of the Federal Government to effectively address insecurity.

The Archbishop, who stated these at an ordination ceremony in Minna, Niger state capital on Saturday, warned that if dialogue by the government continues with the bandits, the government will be overpowered for its refusal to take needed stringent measures to end banditry in the country.

Speaking on current happenings in some states of the Federation with specific reference to Niger State where bandits abducted dozens of school children were abducted from Government Science School, Kagara on Wednesday, Onaiyekan said; “We should not be living in a country where you are always with your heart in your mouth when you are moving from one place to another; where children cannot study in peace in their schools and where bandits, whatever you call them, come from nowhere and cart away 20, 30 children and their teachers into the bush and sit somewhere and boast, calling for dialogue.

“More disturbing is the fact that even government agencies are talking about reaching out. It is not the right thing to do. It is about time we have a government that takes care of its people.

“This is nothing political about it. It has nothing to do with the PDP, APC, and it has nothing to do with Islam or Christianity. Not even with our tribal differences.

“We have a large gang of criminals that are almost taking over our country. The government should either do it or allow others to do it. If the government cannot secure the lives of the people, they should call for a kind of national cohesion.

“They should stop pretending that they are the ones ruling. In some countries when these incidents happen, it gets to a stage where the government will call for national unity where everyone comes on board to proffer solutions,” he said.

Onaiyekan concluded by saying; “People who claim to be our leaders, who during elections forced us, begged us and cajoled us to put them in power, but now that they are in power, let them do their work for goodness sake”.