From Fred Itua, Abuja
A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, has called on the National Assembly to immediately intervene and stop the current drift of the nation, which according to him, is characterised by insecurity of lives and property.
He said a country where citizens are kidnapped, raped, tortured, extorted and killed in large numbers by terrorists and bandits all across the country, should worry everyone.
He said: “Our military officers are also being murdered including those recently murdered in Bwari by these terrorists bent on taking over and destroying our once united and prosperous country where different tribes,and religions lived in peace and harmony,” he noted.
He urged the National Assembly to focus their attention on issues of security and bring those who have failed the nation to book, and leave other issues for now, as “our survival as a nation is now at stake with citizens unable to travel, the Naira plummeting against the dollar, the economy in collapse, with resultant high youth unemployment and unimaginable suffering of Nigerians in the midst of plenty.”
He said: “The international image of our country has reached such low ebb on account of our economic difficulties caused by poor governance and bybnot putting square pegs in square holes, that our green passport is unwelcome in many countries that hitherto respected Nigerians.
“Our youths are fleeing the country in droves for greener pastures, and many have died in journeys across the oceans and the Sahara,and are being treated poorly in such foreign lands.
“History will judge them harshly if they do not act urgently to restore the nation to a path of peace and putting her back on an even keel based on justice, equity and fairness to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, tongue or religion.”
He said the country has been unduly polarised and divided by nepotism and bigotry. He urged for more proactive leadership of the National Assembly in order for them to meet the expectations of Nigerians in these trying times, saying “members should hold their leaders to account and insist that they offer stronger leadership in keeping with these times.”