ACN Asks Jonathan To Withdraw Soldiers From Lagos

The Lagos state chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has for the umpteenth asked President Jonathan to order his soldiers out of Lagos and deploy them to fight Boko Haram which is now a parallel government.

In a release signed by the state publicity secretary Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the party says the continued deployment of soldiers in Lagos even against the wish of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and many eminent Lagosians and other Nigerians demonstrates disrespect, arrogance and spirit of stubbornness.

“The party says the blatant lies and official deceit from the Federal Government that Governor Fashola requested for the soldiers since 2010 tells a big story about how Nigeria is being governed presently and consequently points to the obvious and painful truth that the Federal Government is losing focus and control.

“To continue to deceive Lagosians and Nigerians that the soldiers on Lagos streets are members of the Special Task Force Code-named OP MESA we all know very well in Lagos is not only to play to the gallery but to play the ostrich as well.

“When OP MESA came into existence in Lagos, Lagos State government provided the vehicles, branded them, numbered them for easy identification and for security convenience, the personnel driving the Task Force were (are) known to us, their names, their vehicles and numbers were registered unlike the present crop of unknown soldiers on Lagos streets with army vehicles, Armoured Tanks and heavy weapons to put fear on Lagosians.”

According to the party “on Friday January 20 2011, nearly 200 Nigerians lost their precious lives in series of Bomb attacks by Boko Haram in the Kano Metropolis and Lagos ACN thinks these heinous crimes against humanity should deeply worry and engage the Federal Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan than to continue to play ugly and untidy politics with the presence of soldiers in Lagos.

“The prevailing situation in our country today calls for serious engagement, networking and cooperation among all genuine Nigerians to deal with the common enemy than to dissipate energies on things that tend to divide us rather than unite us.

“While we sympathize with the families of near 200 Nigerians including the Channels TV man, Mr. Akogwu, who were brutally murdered in Kano by Boko Haram, we think that the Federal Government should stop handling the organization with kid’s gloves. They have declared war on Nigeria, forming a parallel government and the government must redeem its battered image now.

“Unusual problem requires unusual solution as the problem we have in our hands requires radical approach to get things strengthened up. We advise President Jonathan to re-organize Nigeria’s security agencies and deploy or sack the Service Chiefs if necessary.”