In a rare emotional outburst, chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that several security meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and other security chiefs have not produced any result.
He made the remark when he visited the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, to commiserate with him over the killings of more than 40 rice farmers in Zabarmari vilage in Jere local government area of Borno State.
According to a Premium Times report, Fayemi, who is the governor of Ekiti State, said that the governor’s forum has had several meetings with the President and the service chiefs, without any tangible result.
“We cannot bring back the people we have lost in the last couple of days but if we do not take the necessary steps, the entire nation will be consumed by this injury.
“This is not a visit to gratify ourselves that we have come to you. No, it is an expression of our own frustration that we have not been able; because we have held a series of meetings, some with Mr President and security chiefs. We highlighted all the issues you have spoken about but we are still where we are.
“We need to stand (with) you, assist in whatever way you want us to, ensuring that our government takes the right position in order to tackle this problem. I want to assure you that we shall not relent as your brothers in conveying this to the appropriate authorities.
“I personally, as a security scholar, can see that our military is overwhelmed. Our military is no longer in a position to single-handedly tackle this menace effectively.
“It is not a criticism of our military, there can even be a coalition that will include our neighbouring countries who are probably more experienced in fighting an asymmetrical war. It will not be a loss of our pride as a country if that were to happen. This is certainly something that we, as your colleagues and brothers, will put before Mr President.
“I know there is an element of fatigue that will creep into this. Every time this happens, we never let you rest with telephone calls. We came here as a delegation and you have spoken to us about what could help us as a nation tackle these security challenges that are depleting our country.
“There is nothing new that you haven’t told us; that you didn’t tell the delegation from Mr President yesterday. We have all heard directly from you; we have read your six-point agenda. All I can say to you is that we fully and wholeheartedly endorse every single point on that agenda.”