Insecurity: Support Our Armed Forces – Clerics Beg Nigerians
BY EDMOND ODOK – Christian Clerics, under the umbrella of the United Pastors Initiative for Good Governance (UPIGG), have urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government and the country’s Armed Forces in their efforts to tackle and defeat insecurity.
The group, which praised President Muhammadu Buhari and the military for their efforts in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other criminalities in the country, however, tasked the government to step up measures aimed at ending insecurity and ensuring peaceful general elections in 2023.
Similarly, the religious leaders lauded the Service Chiefs for the renewed synergy towards addressing the myriad of security challenges confronting the nation, noting that such collaboration has continued to yield positive results.
Speaking when the UPIGG visited the Minister of Defence, Maj-General Bashir Magashi in Abuja on Tuesday, the National President, Reverend James Muya, urged the Federal Government to ensure the security and protection of all citizens across the country, saying; “Finally, we enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to give maximum support to the present government in its relentless efforts at tackling insecurity in the country.”
According to Muya; “In this light, we plead for the assistance of your kind office to help in securing our members as we carry out a nationwide campaign promoting our mandate, especially in areas where insecurity is paramount.”
In his response, the Defence Minister, General Magashi charged religious leaders to pray for Nigeria without taking sides, stressing that the nation’s challenges were surmountable but often times underestimated.
Represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mr Benson Odama, the Minister, who assured that the government would not relent in its efforts at securing Nigerians and the country, urged the clergies to keep praying and supporting the military, especially the young men and women that are putting their lives in harm’s way for citizens to have peace.
Tasking Nigerians on the need to appreciate efforts by the nation’s Armed Forces, General Maggaji said; “We need peace in this country because, without peace, no aspect of our economy will progress. Preach peace in your churches, neighborhood, and in your families because that is the only way to go.
“We are close to elections, we pray for peace, we pray for good leaders that will take us from where we are to where we want to be; that will happen if men of God like you will dispassionately pray without taking sides because you are expected to be apolitical, neutral, and impartial, and that is the only way we can move forward as a nation.” – With NAN reports
