The Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) has canvassed deployment of full military arsenal to halt the dastard activities of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
The Assembly comprises of elder statesmen from the three zones that make up the South: South-East, South-West and South-South.
Co-chaired by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Bolanle Gbonigi and Edwin Clark, the SNPA held a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday to discuss the security situation in the country.
The elder statesmen condemned the recent abduction of over 200 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, noting that the security situation is becoming unbearable.
Speaking after the meeting which lasted for over two hours, Gbonigi said “We urge the President to take additional measures including the full deployment of our military arsenal to defeat the terrorists.
“The corporate existence of the nation and collective will of the people to live peacefully together is been challenged and every patriotic Nigerian irrespective of their tribe, religion and political affiliation should rally round President Goodluck Jonathan as he leads the fight to take back our country from agents of darkness and self seeking bigots.
“We cannot fold our arms and watch our dear country slide into anarchy, the painful memories and scars of the unfortunate civil war are still very much with us,” he said.
Also, Gbonigi enjoined security agencies to intensify efforts and bring to book, those who may be sponsoring the insurgents.
A former Federal Commissioner of Information and co-chair of the Assembly, Edwin Clark restated his earlier call for declaration of full emergency rule in the three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
“The issue of Fulani herds is another one as it has become a threat. If we must live together, we must find solution to that.
“We are not saying that the Fulani herdsmen should not earn a leaving but the killings are getting too much,” Clark said.
Ekwueme who was represented by Dr. Dozie Ikedife, also had this to say, “we must find solution to the issue of insecurity because it must not be beyond us.”
