Former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has called on theFederal Government to release names of terrorists’ sponsors if it wantsNigerians to believe it is truly fighting terrorism and insurgency in thecountry. The Plateau State-born politician who made the call in astatement on Thursday, accused the Nigerian government of repeatedly failing toname or prosecute sponsors and financiers of terrorism in the country despiteseveral promises and mounting evidence which it claimed to have gathered. In the statement, Dalung noted that instead of thegovernment acting decisively and promptly, it has resorted to distractions andhalf-truth. Citing the recent comments by the lawmaker representingPankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives,Yusuf Gagdi, who vehemently kicked against the idea of creating a state police,Dalung said both Gagdi’s stance and the reluctance of the government to nameand prosecute terror sponsors were both hypocritical and absurd. He stressed that even in Gagdi’s own constituency in PlateauState the people have suffered from attacks, kidnappings, killings, anddisplacement while little accountability has followed. Dalung challenged Gagdi’s position that governors cannot betrusted with state police, arguing that the federal government-controlledsecurity system has shown no better performance. Dalung also recalled allegations against several publicfigures as sponsors of terrorists and wondered why those fingered have not beeninvited by the DSS for questioning. “Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi South has been accused inmedia reports of aiding terrorists but there is no record that he has beeninvited by the DSS,” Dalung said. He also claimed former Kaduna State Governor, NasiruEl-Rufai, has, on different occasions, accused the National Security Adviser,NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, of supporting bandits but he has not been arrested andprosecuted. The former Minister further stated that Chief of DefenceStaff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had previously promised to publish names offinanciers; but that promise has not been fulfilled. “Past instances like when the UAE reportedly submitted thenames of Nigerian terrorist sponsors to the government, are still fresh but theallegations have remained neither published nor prosecuted. “Nigeria is nearing a breaking point. Unless names arereleased, prosecutions initiated, and constitutional reforms, such A’s stateand community policing, enacted, Nigeria risks further insecurity,displacement, and erosion of trust in government,” he emphasized.
Related Articles
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.