A former Nigerian presidential candidate and two-term governor of Cross River state Donald Duke has accused the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Tukur Buratai of failing in their primary responsibility of securing the country.
Duke who appeared on ARISE News said while the Army has failed in securing the Northeast from insurgents and banditry, the same Army has said it is ready to restore peace as a result of the protests that’s rocked Nigeria.
“The thing the Nigerian Army said it wants to restore peace as a result of the protest, that’s hogwash and total nonsense. This same Army for several years has not been able to restore peace in the Northeast and they now want to restore peace in other parts of the country.
“I am really surprised at the Chief of Army staff at this, they have failed in their primary responsibility in securing the Northeast and now they want to secure the entire country,” the former governor said.
He attributed ongoing protests across the country as the frustration of Nigerian youths that has been brewing for several years.
“What you are finding and what is being expressed now is frustration that’s been brewing for several years. These are young people who are articulate who are organised and focused, who’ve come to believe that they’ve got to take their destinies into their hands and they believe the folks who are handling the affairs of the country are perhaps not handling the challenges they face.
“SARS is simply emblematic of a larger problem, a problem whereby a nation is seen as rather rudderless, no one is in charge, where no one is held accountable.
“Deeper still these folks are in the prime of their lives and are not able to actuaries themselves, they are exposed. These youths are not illiterates they are exposed and see the level of development in other parts of the world and they wonder why not here in Nigeria.” Duke said.
By Abel Ejikeme