Forum of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairmen, on Friday, expressed worry over the high rate of kidnapping in the country and told President Bola Tinubu to wield the big stick on any of the security heads that is found wanting in his or her responsibilities.

The APC Chairmen also described the crisis in the Edo chapter of the party after the governorship primaries as a storm in teacup. They added that efforts are being made to address all the grievances at the level of party leadership.

Briefing State House correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu in State House, Abuja, Secretary of the Forum of APC Chairmen, Alphonsus Oga Eba, said that the issue of insecurity was raised at the meeting.

Eba was fielding questions on the spate of kidnapping of children, especially in Kaduna State.

He said: “On the question of the kidnap of pupils in Kaduna State, yes it forms one of the issues about the general insecurity in the country that we raised as a matter of concern to Mr. President.

“We said we are more concerned because from our vintage position, it is very clear there are a lot of distractions going on in this country. There are activities of criminals that are being perpetrated to put the government and our party in bad light.

“We have commended Mr. President for the support, moral and financial that he has given to security agencies. But we came with one humble advice that we gave to Mr. President today as Forum of chairman to say that nobody expects Mr. President as Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to carry arms and go to the battlefield.

“That is why he has his lieutenants, as security agencies in various areas and what we have told Mr. President today, by way of advice, that it is time for people to be held accountable for the actions. Where a district Police Officer or a Commissioner of Police or whoever that is in control of whatever security architect at whatever level is found wanting, Mr. President should wield the big stick. That was part of what we discussed today.”

Asked whether the issue of the crisis in Edo State was discussed, Eba, who is the APC Chairman in Cross River State, said, “Edo State issue came up yesterday (Thursday) in our meeting. We discussed it extensively. We had reached some conclusions, but it was not one of the issues we discussed with Mr. President today because there are still internal party affairs that we are rising up from here now to continue a meeting with the national Chairman of our party and the NWC.

“Issues around Edo that you are you aware that are already in the public glare are just but a storm in a tea cup and will be resolved at that level of the party leadership. So we did not discuss that with Mr. President.”

The Forum of APC Chairmen which had 33 members out of 37 present at the meeting with the President, said members were on a solidarity visit to the Nigerian leader and to discuss issues of national importance.

They further submitted that they also proffered some strategies of tackling the myriad of challenges bedevilling the country. (Vanguard: Text, Excluding Headline)

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