Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has advised President Bola Tinubu to listen to concerns about the security situation in the country and deal with the situation decisively.

Gowon spoke, yesterday, at the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN)’s 15th Founder’s Day, Annual Lecture and Awards, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), with the theme: “Security, Social Justice and Poverty Eradication: Clarion Demands on Governance in Nigeria”.

Gowon, who is the patron of BSN, expressed sadness over the situation in the country, whereby kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other vices have become rampant.

“The matter of insecurity in the country is a problem for discussion at the Council of State, where former heads of state meet to discuss burning issues.

“We will be willing to discuss with the President on several issues going on in the country, ranging from insecurity, hunger, poverty, among others, for quick solution,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the government by volunteering useful information that would address the security situation.

The General Secretary, BSN, Samuel Sanusi, said the choice of the theme for the event was informed by the need to raise the people’s concern about whatever is going wrong in the country and be committed to proffering solutions.

The Guest Speaker, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Biographers, Mike Awoyinfa, linked insecurity in the nation to poverty in the land and expressed the need to address it urgently.

Awardees at the event included the founder, Love of Christ Generation Church, Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi; Group Managing Director, Rose of Sharon Group, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija; and Pioneer Managing Director, Micro Investment Supper Services, Mrs Elizabeth Ehigiamusoe.

The President/Board Chairman of BSN, Bishop Timothy Banwo attended the event while the Group Managing Director, Wetherheads Advertising Group, Pastor Abiodun Iderawunmi, was the chairman of the occasion.

ALSO, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has called on the Federal Government to take proactive steps to curb increasing insecurity in the country.

The Secretary-General of the CSN, Zacharia Samjumi, who made the call at a conference organised by the Secretariat in Abuja, noted that the number one duty of every government was the protection of the lives and property of its citizens and that once any government failed to do so, it could be said to have failed.

“We appeal to the government to fulfil its primary duties of securing lives and properties. While we are not allowed to go into the field to provide the necessary military power to secure the nation, we appeal to the consciences of government officials when we meet with them.”

Samjumi, was represented by his Deputy, Fr. Michael Banjo. He said: “Reverend fathers are being kidnapped, not only being kidnapped but being killed. So, we are all in the same situation.” The role of the church is the ‘formation of the conscience’, adding that priests also appeal to consciences when they preach.

“We appeal to the government to rise to its duties. In the last few years, there is no time bishops issued communique without appealing to the government to rise to the situation,”.

On his part, the National Director of Social Communications at the CSN, Michael Nsikak Umoh, said the security situation in the country has deteriorated, adding that the country is in a very distasteful situation at the moment. (The Guardian)

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