Expanding banditry economy dangerous, ADC warns FG

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) rose from its coalition meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, criticising the Federal Government’s handling of the prevailing insecurity in the country, alleging that the strategy being employed by the present administration is enabling the bandits economy to flourish.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the policy of school closure shows that government is surrendering to the ideology of Boko Haram.

He said while the ADC rejoices with the families and communities whose loved ones have been rescued from the recent wave of kidnappings across the country, including the worshipers in Kwara State, and the schoolchildren in Kebbi State.

“We must reiterate our long-standing position that these abductions should never have occurred in the first place if the government were alive to its constitutional responsibilities.”

The coalition said what the country is witnessing today is the consequence of an administration distracted by politics and behaving less like a democratic government and more like an occupying force.

“It is telling that it took a chastening comment from President Trump to provoke even the slightest response from our government.”

On the safe return of victims, ADC said, “The conflicting accounts coming from different government officials make it clear that the Federal Government is not being honest with Nigerians about the circumstances surrounding the release of the abducted victims.

“We strongly believe that this administration is negotiating deals with insurgents. It is especially alarming to hear the Inspector General of Police state that the perpetrators of the Kwara church attack were not arrested because they ‘came out voluntarily for the peace talk’.

“Equally troubling is the comment attributed to the Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, suggesting that the abductees were released simply because the government and security operatives ‘asked them nicely’.”

ADC said this raised serious questions, “Is the Nigerian government paying ransom to insurgents? What exactly was exchanged for the so-called “surrender of weapons” by the kidnappers? And if these bandits truly surrendered weapons, what prevents them from simply acquiring new ones and continuing their criminal enterprise, if they are not going to be arrested and brought to face justice? ”

The coalition said they were concerned that if negotiation with bandits had become the government’s strategy for tackling insurgency and the surge in kidnappings, then, “Nigeria is on a dangerous and misguided path. It is the approach of an administration searching for shortcuts instead of confronting the problem decisively. By appeasing insurgents in this manner, the government is, in effect, expanding the banditry economy.”

On the closure of schools, ADC said, “While the government may consider this the safest short-term option, it sends a dangerous message to the terrorists. A government that quietly negotiates with insurgents and then shuts down schools to avoid further kidnappings has, in effect, conceded ground to terror.”

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