By Jimitota Onoyume

President Bola Tinubu has been told to ensure sponsors of Boko Haram, banditry and related security challenges in the north are identified and prosecuted.

Arewa leader in the south Alhaji Musa Saidu made the appeal in a chat with the Vanguard , stressing that all hands should be on deck to end the security challenge across the country.

Saidu said the closure of schools in some states in the north were signs of seeming weakness , adding that it was not a solution. He said states and the federal governments should collaborate to flush out the bandits and others terrorising the country.

“Nigeria is in crisis, sponsors of Boko Haram should be prosecuted . We read allegations that some sponsors of Boko Haram and banditry are in government. The federal and state governments should investigate the allegation thoroughly and if anyone is caught he or she should face the law. I heard of schools being closed in some parts of the north over security issues, I think this is a sign of weakness. Weakness should not be demonstrated rather the government should mobilize to address the problem “, he said.

The Arewa leader said the call to recruit more soldiers is a step in the right direction , stressing that children of the elites should also be recruited. ” Nobody should be conscripted into the military. The call to recruit more soldiers is a good one. But my take is that children of the elites should also be recruited to serve the nation.”, he said.

He said it was high time the government paid soldiers and military men very well. “Nobody should be conscripted into the military. The military should be well paid. Children of the ruling class should also be enlisted into the army. “, he added.

Also speaking ahead of the yuletide season in Rivers state Saidu said governor Sim Fubara had in the past made Christmas provisions for northerners in the state but sadly some northerners close to the government allegedly diverted them. He said this time the governor should devise a means to ensure that Christmas provisions made for northerners got to the targeted ordinary northern folks.

” Governor Sim Fubara sends Christmas to northerners but it doesn’t get to us. He should check this. We are not happy that some people are trading with his generosity. What we are saying is that as business people we can afford the things he gives but it is wrong for the governor to extend a hand of charity in the spirit of Christmas to us and some persons will trade with it. The government should check this “, he said.

Saidu said despite the recent donation by former governor Chibuike Amaechi to the Arewa Consultative Forum , ACF, in Kaduna it may still be difficult for him to enjoy the support of several northerners in his Rivers state . He said the Port Harcourt city local government allegedly took over the burial ground for muslims in Port Harcourt in 2013, when Amaechi was governor of the state , a move he alleged didn’t go down well with them ( Muslims ) .

” Northerners have been in Rivers state and they had a burial ground given to them in Port Harcourt several years back. The Muslim cemetery also served some foreigners. When Amaechi was governor Port Harcourt city local government took over the cemetery . This has not gone down well with many northern Muslims in the state.”, he said.