Hoodlums may take over Nigeria – Afenifere

BY DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE—AFENIFERE, a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Wednesday, challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to rise and act fast to stem the spate of insecurity and the wanton destruction of lives and property or face the possibility of hoodlums completely taking over the country.

Secretary-General of the group, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, said the rate at which kidnappers abduct prominent Nigerians and the Boko Haram menace had not only put the lives of people at risk, but also scared away prospective investors.

Arogbofa listed the recent abduction of the mother of Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the wife of former Governor of Western Region, Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd), as examples, which had brought bad publicity to the country.

According to him, “nobody is any longer safe in the country. Just a few days ago, it was the elderly Prof (Mrs) Okonjo that was kidnapped; only yesterday it was the wife of Gen. Oluwole Rotimi, former governor of Western Region.

“In the Northern part of the country, the Boko Haram is in charge and kills with reckless abandon.”

The group asked the President to act decisively before the menace gets out of total control, while expressing concern over the President’s various reactions to insecurity in the country.

The group warned that criminals may take over the country if the government fails to act decidedly.

Arogbofa alleged conspiracy among the criminals and some security agencies in the country.
He said: “More than any time, President Jonathan must not only be seen to be barking but biting if criminality is to be brought under control in the country.

“The President should act, especially by giving red card to the nation’s security officers in particular the Police and prisons officials, while the Bar and the Bench must no longer toy with or rationalise obvious criminal cases.

“While it may be true as said by AIG Tsafe in Abeokuta that ransom paid to criminals to hasten the release of victims is mainly responsible for the rise in kidnapping, is that why the Police, believed to be aware of most criminals in the society, have not always acted swiftly and decidedly when criminals strike?