Kidnapping: sack non-performing security heads, APC chairmen urge Tinubu

Kunle Sanni

The Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed concerns about the high incidence of kidnapping in the country during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

They urged him to take necessary action against any security head who fails to perform their duties.

The Chairmen also discussed the conflict in the Edo chapter of the party following the governorship primaries.

They reassured that efforts are being made to address all grievances with the party leadership.

After the meeting, the Secretary of the Forum of APC Chairmen, Alphonsus Eba, who briefed reporters at State House in Abuja on Friday confirmed that the issue of insecurity was one of the key topics discussed during the meeting.

They spoke in reaction concerning the recent spike in insecurity in the country especially in the case of kidnapping.

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 a bad light.

“We have commended Mr. President for the support, moral and financial support that he has given to security agencies. But we came with one humble piece of advice that we gave to Mr. President today as the 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.”

During an interview with the press, the APC Chairman in Cross River State, Eba, confirmed that the issue of the crisis in Edo State was discussed in their meeting on Thursday. He mentioned that they discussed it extensively and had reached some conclusions.

“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.”