…SAYS PRESIDENT SHOULD MAKE EQUIPPING THE MILITARY A TOP PRIORITY
Onyedi Igwe, Port Harcourt
The Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the increasing killings perpetrated by terrorists in the country.
Wike said that the President owes it a duty to Nigerians to fulfill his electoral promise to end the threat of insecurity in the land.
Wike who spoke during the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said Nigerians are worried by the prolonged killings by Boko Haram insurgents and others.
He said that while some progress have been made in containing the insurgents it had come at a great sacrifice from the Armed Forces whose personnel lose their lives to defend the nation.
He commended the Armed Forces for for their commitment to the defence of the nation’s territorial integrity and the protection of the its democracy.
He said: “There is also the unbridled killings by the bandits and the increasing insecurity in most parts of the country with members of the Armed Forces made to pay the price of containing these internal wars continuously.
“We acknowledge that some progress has been made in the fight against the insurgents. However, the generality of Nigerians believe that the progress made can’t be good enough insofar as Boko haram, its affiliates and the bandits are still active in the North-East, North-West and some other parts of the country killing, maiming and kidnapping helpless people, including school children, and destroying and displacing hapless communities.
“We therefore, call on Mr President to redouble his efforts and fulfil his cardinal electoral promise to secure the country and ensure that Nigerians feel safe and remain safe and secure wherever they are in their own country.”
Wike who called on the President to make equipping the military and the security agencies a top national priority said such a deliberate action would motivate the military to deal decisively with the onerous task of securing the country.
“We also count on our armed forces to quickly end the raging insurgency and restore peace and hope to all our distressed people and communities who bear the physical, emotional and psychological scars of war and destruction.
“It is also significant to appreciate that, for several families across the nation and communities, today’s remembrance ceremony is a very painful reminder of the loved ones that they lost years, months and even barely weeks ago.
“Perhaps, granting consent for a loved one to enlist in the Armed Forces knowing that he or she may die in the service, remains one of the toughest decisions any parent, guardian or spouse can make.
“But they did and gave their loved ones to the service of the nation; for the love of our nation; and for the peace and security of their people.
“What they did is therefore a great and inspiring lesson in courage and selflessness, for which we owe them all a debt of gratitude, respect and honour.” He added
The Rivers State Governor donated N50 million to support widows of fallen heroes.