The Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks issued a stern caution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding mounting insecurity, economic challenges, and waning public trust in the judiciary.
Chairman Amb. Ibarhim Waiya conveyed this warning during a press briefing in Kano, emphasizing the network’s concern about Nigeria’s declining democratic values due to contested elections across several states.
Waiya highlighted the importance of respecting people’s voices in a democratic society, citing instances where recent elections seemed to suppress these voices.
He urged the government to address the escalating poverty crisis by declaring a state of emergency, noting that an additional 30 million Nigerians have slipped into multidimensional poverty under the current administration.
Moreover, Waiya stressed the necessity of preventing politically motivated conflicts in opposition-held Northern states to safeguard the nation from potential destruction, calling for collective efforts towards this goal.
The text of the press briefing read further:
“Although, it has not been long since the appointment of the new service chiefs in the country, and huge investment in the security sector. Citizens’ expectation is that, by now, security of lives and properties should have been brought to the beareast minimum level.
However the continuous killings of people, child trafficking, banditry, displacement of communities, kidnappings, across the country, especially in some States of the North, such as: Katsina, Plateau, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara States, re- surfacing of the insurgency in the North East, is so unprecedented. The dimension at which the security for lives and properties of the Nigerian citizens, which is fast declining, puts citizens into more fear, hopelessness and uncertainties.
“The Conference expresses a deep concern about the current state of the judiciary in Nigeria. The conflicting judgments being issued by various courts of the same jurisdiction have created a sense of confusion and frustration among the citizens. Unfortunately, this has led to a loss of trust and confidence in the judiciary.
“The integrity and effectiveness of our legal system are essential for maintaining public trust and upholding the rule of law. We believe that the Judicial Service Commission has the responsibility and authority to make the necessary reforms to restore faith in the judiciary.
“That, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not allow his Government to be used in the manipulative scheme of interfering with judicial processes in courts involving cases of election opposition states, to truncate the Nigerian democracy, an offence that would never be forgiven by the entire democratic communities around the World, and may lead to chaos, more insecurity and conflicts across the country
“The NJC should adhere to the latter ethics and practice of their profession, in accordance with the law, as the custodian of justice and rule of rule
“We acknowledge the efforts of some governors like Sokoto, Borno Kaduna Zamfara, Katsina for their resilience in curtailing the insecurities in their States. However, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, must hold himself and the security agencies accountable, for the ongoing insecurity in the country, and should develop a key performance indicators (KPI) of not more than 6 months, for the security agencies to be assessed for accountability.
“We urge the National Security Adviser to coordinate the synergy between the Service Chiefs for optimal combating of insecurities.
“That, the president should with immediate effect convey a national economic summit for citizens to identify, deliberate and proffer solutions to the Nigerian economic situation.
“That, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must look inward to raise funds for Governance businesses other than borrowings, by squeezing the past and present public officials with corruption allegation to recover the looted funds belonging to Nigerians.
“The Conference is appealing to the Judicial Service Commission to take swift action to thoroughly investigate the root causes of the conflicting judgments and implement measures to ensure the judicial system.”
