FG's Inaction Emboldens Killer Herders, Says Suswam – International Edition

Gabriel Suswan, the ex-Governor of Benue State, blames the ongoing assaults by murderous herdsmen, as well as incidents of banditry and terrorism, on the government's repeated inability to pinpoint and punish those accountable for these acts.

On Thursday, during an appearance on the Arise Television show, Suswam voiced his worry that those behind these criminal actions go unchecked, which encourages them to keep engaging in such deeds without worrying about consequences.

He cautioned that the nation was slipping towards lawlessness, since those behind such "betrayal actions" act without consequence, assuredly protected from legal accountability.

Pointing out the federal government's main duty regarding security, Suswam charged the officials with protecting the perpetrators of terrorism by not disclosing who they are.

“I think the Federal Government needs to step up. There’s lip service being paid to the security of the country. I believe that the security of this country is purely in the hands of the Federal Government because it controls the instrument of coercion —the military, the police, immigration, and even the prisons—so it must take decisive action.

The persistence of this insecurity stems from insufficient action being taken. No specific individuals have faced isolation or penalties. Sanctions act as warnings, yet when wrongdoers realize that their actions go unpunished, they tend to escalate their behavior. Therefore, pinpointing and pursuing those accountable is essential," Suswam stated.

He stated, "If they perceive that no significant actions are taken, their boldness increases. Therefore, isolate those individuals and identify anyone sponsoring them. Any person inclined towards committing such betrayal should understand that arrest and prosecution await. Without implementing this, our community risks descending into a state of lawlessness where all norms become irrelevant."

He denounced the recurring violence in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Taraba states, urging for joint efforts from governors, legislators, and every elected official.

He cautioned against politicising the crisis, urging all stakeholders to work together to address security issues affecting their constituents.

“But I don’t think that it is about the competence of the governor. The elected representatives, not just the government, come from these communities, so no person, elected or not elected, will just stand, fold his arms and watch his people being killed. So they are making efforts, but I think that those efforts need to be stepped up.

“Many individuals understand that this issue transcends politics. Everyone is impacted regardless of affiliation with the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, or the Labour Party. Elected officials serving in both the House of Assembly and the National Assembly, hailing from various communities, are collaborating to ensure we discover resolutions to this challenge.”

All political officeholders must unite genuinely to address the insecurity crisis rather than playing politics with it. Once we agree on a collective solution, we will begin to see results,” he stated.

Suswam also criticised the government’s reactive approach to security, calling for a sustainable and proactive strategy instead of the usual “fire brigade approach.”

We find ourselves increasingly adopting a fire-fighting strategy. Whenever an incident occurs somewhere, there’s considerable commotion for about two weeks. Temporary measures are hastily implemented, only for everything to return to normal until the subsequent event.

"If we face constant attacks or ongoing security issues, I think the Federal Government should establish a robust and enduring framework rather than relying on temporary solutions or reacting impulsively like putting out fires. Once such a comprehensive system is implemented, we can effectively tackle these challenges. Additionally, stringent penalties must be enforced," Suswam stated.

Warning of a worsening security crisis if urgent action is not taken, Suswam stressed that failure to curb insecurity now could lead to even greater instability.

Regarding internal matters of the Peoples Democratic Party, Suswam mentioned that the party will convene next week to choose between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye for the position of national secretary.

He pointed out that the Supreme Court had determined that the selection of party officials was an internal matter.

I believe it is quite evident from the Supreme Court's statement that matters related to party roles are considered internal concerns of various political entities. This implies that each party has the authority to determine their own leadership, including deciding who becomes the chairperson, secretary, or holds any other role within the organization, as per the court's decision.

Given that decision, I believe the PDP as an organization will convene a meeting next month to determine their party secretary. Currently, both Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye are vying for leadership roles within the party.

The party will ultimately convene when they gather next month and reach an impartial conclusion regarding their national secretary. Since the Supreme Court has stated this, it falls upon the party to determine internal matters. Therefore, during our meeting, we will adopt that stance.

Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).