The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) have warned that the unabating insecurity in the country was a threat to the conduct of the 2023 elections, adding that it might not hold as planned.
The leaders of the religious groups gave the warning at the Inclusive Security Dialogue Meeting jointly organised by Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa in Abuja on Monday.
The event was held for social cohesion, sustainable peace, and security in Nigeria.
While expressing worry over the negative effect of the rising cases of killings and kidnappings on the country’s political and socioeconomic destiny which was said to be “fast nosediving,” the groups called for a reawakening of Nigerians consciousness to make the right electoral choice at the next general election.
CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who expressed worry that politicians were not paying attention to the rising insecurity, suggested a query be issued to the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to explain how firearms were being smuggled into the country by unlicensed people.
He said: “If insecurity persists unabated, there will be no election in 2023. Politicians move around, campaign and make all manner of promises without taking into cognizance, the security state of the nation.
“The way things are going now, bandits and other non-state actors might overwhelm us before 2023. They are moving from one level of sophistication and recklessness to another, and unfortunately, our security agents are becoming overwhelmed. There are indications that the intelligence gathering of the bandits seem to be higher than that of the State actors.”
Rev. Ayokunle, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the new Electoral Act, however, reminded the President that the Electoral Act alone cannot guarantee free, fair and credible elections that would be acceptable to the majority of the citizens.
While calling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be sincere in its approach and allow a level playing ground for all interested persons in the forthcoming elections, he advocated a home-grown democracy that would recognize the complexities of Nigeria, ensure resources were fairly distributed, and allow all the six geopolitical zones to have a sense of belonging in leadership.
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“Nobody wants to play the role of second fiddle in our democracy which should be little different from that of the US being a homogeneous country as against Nigeria that is different with about 500 ethnic nations,” the CAN President added.
On his part, the co-chairman of IDFP, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, who raised questions on why there was rising cases of insecurity despite the huge money expended for arms procurement, suggested a decisive action against the bandits that have been killing and maiming people.
He noted that the government has lost the battle against bandits, and suggested they should resign and make way for more competent persons to pilot the affairs of Nigeria.
“Many people have been arrested for crime of kidnapping and banditry over the years, but none has been successfully prosecuted and jailed to serve as deterrent to others nursing the idea of crime,” Sanni said.
Also speaking at the event, the President of Vision Africa, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, concluded that Nigeria cannot conduct any meaningful election with the level of insecurity, poverty and unemployment being witnessed in the country.
Onuoha said: “The circulation of small arms and light weapons is contributing to the security challenge we have today. So, we must de-escalate tension and invest our time in promoting a culture of peace and not that of violence.
“It has become difficult to travel round the country due to insecurity. Fortified walls and highly mechanized gates no longer protect the elite anymore. Faith leaders and traditional rulers are kidnapped, and some even killed.
“Our police stations are barely occupied as officers take cover for their lives because they are ill-equipped to take on or confront the opposition. What then is the fate of the poor and unprotected man on the streets; no food, no means of income, and no security.”
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