The Nigeria Civil
Society Situation Room (Situation Room) has called on the security chiefs in
the country to resign their appointments immediately over their inability to
provide security for millions of Nigerians.
According to a statement from Agianpe Ashang of the
Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), said that the Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, at a
meeting with 12 national commissioners and other stakeholders conveyed that he
had received a letter from the security services advising that he postponed the
general elections on the grounds that the security agencies were engaged in a
renewed battle against insurgency in the North-East that would require their
full concentration.
According to Jega in the letter, the military was
demanding a rescheduling of elections by at least six weeks.
Agiampe said, “Situation Room conveyed to INEC, its
disappointment with the letter from the security agencies pointing out that
this amounted to the military’s abdication of its constitutional duties to
provide security to citizens and to the commission to enable it conduct
elections and appeared contrived to truncate the democratic process in Nigeria.
“Situation Room is further worried that the
military’s position also aims to blackmail and arm-twist the election
management body away from its constitutional guaranteed function of conducting
elections. Situation Room also condemns this advisory by security agents that
they cannot guarantee the security of citizens, election officials and
materials during the election.
“The Situation Room calls for the resignation of military
chiefs and security heads including the Police on account of their inability to
exercise their constitutional responsibility to secure lives and property at
all times including during the elections.
“Situation Room also calls on Nigerians to be vigilant
and be ready to protect this hard won democracy!”
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