…Withdrawal of petition by CSO against Buhari excites presidency
By Dele Ogbodo
Despite reservation by cross section of Nigeria over the collapsed of security apparatus in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday expressed confidence and assurance that security and law enforcement agencies are capable of safeguarding the country, its people and property.
Meanwhile, the presidency is agog with the withdrawal of petition by the Change for Coalition (C4C), challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 2019 election.
While responding to concerns raised by a delegation of Zamfara Advocacy Group (ZAG), during an audience at the State House, Abuja, President Buhari, said the military and the police have been taking drastic measures to check the activities of some local elements threatening the peace of the communities, including preventing farmers from going to their farms.
“I assure you, I get daily reports from people in the field and traditional rulers. I also meet regularly with the leadership of the security agencies, and they have been directed to deploy their personnel to secure the society,” President Buhari said.
Describing as “unfortunate” the “failure of local leadership in intelligence- gathering,” the President enjoined community and traditional leaders to monitor closely the activities of people in their domain with a view to assisting law enforcement agencies to secure the communities.
Commending the new governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, for being proactive in addressing the security challenges, the President urged royal fathers to go back to their cultural roles.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Usman Balarabe, while congratulating President Buhari on his re-election, said the “situation in Zamfara remains dire,” citing increased attacks, deaths, injuries and displacements.
According to him, “We are here because we believe Mr. President and his administration can put in place solid measures to bring about peace and security, and also mitigate the endemic poverty that has made this region one of the poorest in the world…”
The delegation, which also included the wife of the governor of Kaduna State, Asia Mohammed Ahmed, and renowned journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, called for greater collaboration among stakeholders; securing the borders; and permanently situating a major military presence in the State, among other suggestions.
On the withdrawal of the petition by C4C, the presidency commends the organization following the withdrawal of its case through its lawyer, at the resumed hearing before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Presidency through Mr. Garba Shehu, said: “This is a sign of true patriotism. By accepting defeat with grace, the C4C has chosen to prioritize the stability of our country and the voice of the people.
“Victory and defeat are part of elections. For some in the opposition, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is good, when they win. Where they lose, INEC is unreliable.
“The challenges facing our nation are huge and we need all hands on deck.”
According to him, the people of Nigeria have chosen President Buhari to lead them, and all stakeholders should deploy their energy towards supporting his efforts.