A group, the Non State Actors Consultative Forum (NOSACOF), has warned against the planned impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Senate.

Minority members of the Senate last week walked out of the plenary threatening to commence impeachment procedures against the President if he fails to address the growing insecurity in the country.

The group said it was improper to start talking about impeaching Buhari now given the economic and security challenges bewildering the country.

The group made this known in a statement jointly signed by its Lead Convener, Abdulrazaq Alkali Bako, and the Co-convener, Ernest Bako.

The statement read: “We the members of Non State Actors Consultative forum (NOSACOF) feel a sense of responsibility to lend our voice on this issue in defence of democracy and the unity of Nigeria”.

“The economic and security challenges bedevilling Nigeria as a nation have got worse in recent months. More and more Nigerians have fallen below the poverty line, and terrorism by bandits and faceless terrorists acting against defenceless citizens have continued with little resistance from Nigeria’s security apparatus.

“Inflation is on the rise, and citizens are finding it very difficult to keep up cost of living. There have been a lot of fingers pointing, as well as accusations and counter-accusation between citizens and the government as well as between warring ethnic nationalities. It is indeed a very trying time for Nigerians!

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“While majority of Nigerians blame the government for not fulfilling its promise on improving and protecting lives and properties of citizens, the government is also accusing some citizens of selfishness and not fulfilling their citizenry duty of community policing but instead some are colluding with terrorist and serving as informant for the terror groups, thus making it difficult for the Nigerian security operatives to overcome the terror groups.

“While there are some truths to both arguments, one thing that stands out and contributes to the shortcomings of both parties (citizens and leaders) can be related to economic challenges the country is facing.

“However, it should be clear to all that the recent economic challenges are largely a global challenge resulting from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“However, Nigerians may find it more challenging compared to other countries due to the fact that over the previous decades, previous administrations have failed to invest in agriculture, infrastructure, crude oil refining, and modernising the security infrastructure. All these have combined to make the insecurity problems more complex to solve.

“Amidst all these turbulence, legislative chambers in Nigeria are most at times full of drama due to the incompetent behaviour of some the legislators, a dangerously new twist has started to unfold in the National Assembly, where some members of the opposition and some disgruntled members of the ruling party are making moves for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari and fuelling accusations and sentiments against the president and his team in order to get backing from Nigerians.

“However, in doing so, they have failed to look at the failures of both national assemblies (house and senate) and how their incompetence has contributed to the worsening economic and security situation in Nigeria. We can all agree that the current security problems of Nigeria today have been a result of accumulation of years of incompetence, selfishness, greed, injustice, and corruption perpetrated by mostly political leaders who are shielded by ethnic and religious entities, a weak and corrupt justice system and to some extend by common citizens.

“As such despite some weakness on the part the President Muhammad Buhari, it will be unjust to lay all the blame on his table and start calling for his impeachment, rather the legislators should focus on finding real solutions,” the group said.

The Star