The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has called on Senator Ireti Kingibe,to stop politicising the security situation in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Senator Kingibe represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly.
The call comes after her criticism of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, regarding his approach to security.
The senator expressed her views on Sunday in Abuja at an event organised by activist Moses Paul, commemorating the first anniversary of the 2023 presidential election.
However, the AYA, in a statement released on Monday and signed by the Speaker, Hon. Mohammed Danlami, criticised the Senator, labeling her statement as politically motivated and an attempt to damage the Minister’s reputation.
“We unequivocally state that the remarks are a politically motivated statement, driven by slander, witch-hunt, and image tarnishing that we find absurd and therefore condemn it in all ramifications,” Danlami said.
Amidst the discourse, the Assembly highlighted the numerous steps taken by Wike to address the security challenges in the FCT.
Initiatives such as the creation of joint-security task forces, the implementation of a digital security monitoring system, and the organization of regular security meetings across the six area councils were emphasized.
According to the Assembly, the Minister’s efforts also include the establishment of new police stations, the provision of equipment to security agencies, and collaboration with neighboring states for joint security operations. The arrests of bandits and would-be criminals in extensive security operations were cited as a testament to the Minister’s commitment to security.
The Assembly argued that in a time of heightened security concerns, the tit-for-tat between a Senator and the Minister of the FCT was unnecessary.
It also took this opportunity to urge residents to cooperate with security agencies and report suspicious activities, reminding them that security is a collective responsibility.
The Assembly further called on Senator Ireti to refrain from employing what it describes as ‘cheap tricks’ of political gameplay that could potentially distract from the security issues at hand and cause unrest among the residents of the FCT.
“Security of our people is too critical to be muddled with political games. We must rise above pettiness to safeguard the lives and properties of the FCT’s inhabitants.
“The Minister has not only prioritized the security of our people but has taken concrete steps to address the challenges head-on,” Danlami said.
