By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Peoples Alliance for Indigenous Rights (PAIR), an alliance of over 20 civil society groups, have called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Mongonu (Rtd), to face his incapacity to deal with insecurity in the country and desist from dragging Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State into his failure.
The caution is coming on the heels of allegations by the Gold Buyers and Jewelry Shop Owners Association accusing the NSA of ordering the arrest and detention of some of its members with the intent of intimidating and coercing them into implicating Governor Mattawalle of buying gold from them in exchange for arms for bandits.
The group stated that three of its members in Zaria and Minna have been arrested on the orders of the NSA over gold for arms deal by the governor for bandits.
Speaking on Sunday in Abuja, National Coordinator of the PAIR, Danladi Adamu, accused the NSA of looking for who to hang his serial failure in office on, and expressed the wonder why President Muhammadu Buhari keeps tolerating his non-performance even while making wild allegations against members of the government but himself.
“Gentlemen of the Press, you will recall that not too long ago, the NSA, Major General Mongonu, claimed that $1bn for arms purchase was stolen by ex-service chiefs only to recant few hours later.
“Also, he alleged that some government officials in President Buhari’s government were undermining efforts against fighting insecurity but failed to note that he is the number one culprit. What can he boast of his achievements as NSA other than to cook up allegations and create bad blood amongst those in government?”
Adamu queried.
He urged the NSA to stay far from the Zamfara Governor who is working hard to address the failure of Mongonu in tackling bandits in the state.
“It is to the credit of Governor Mattawalle that hundreds of bandits have surrendered and turned in their arms, while many more hundreds have been released and communities secured all to the effort of the Zamfara state government.
“Any attempt by the NSA to drag Governor Mattawalle into anything untoward will be greatly resisted,” Adamu warned.
It will be recalled that the Executive Director, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Dr Sani Shinkafi, knocked the NSA not long ago, saying, “Monguno has once again proven his incapacity to perform and has by divine providence exposed his selfish agenda at the most difficult and challenging time for Nigeria.”
