By Ishaya Ibrahim
Against the background of the increasing challenge of insecurity in the country, former presidential aspirant in 2019 and Executive Director of Nigerian-American Council (NAC), Dr. Okey Samuel Mbonu, has held talks in Washington DC, with the new US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard on the issue and other matters.
In a brief statement on the meeting which took place at the sidelines of a Nigeria Event at the Washington DC think-tank, “Center for Security and International Studies (CSIS)”, Mbonu observed that, “the current government in Nigeria may have abdicated its duty to protect its citizens, especially Nigerian Christians, of which images of horrific murders, by Nigerian terrorists, are now at the center of the world attention”.
He added that where the government fails to live up to its primary responsibility, of ensuring the safety and security of citizens, they may leave citizens with no option but to revert to the basic human doctrine of self-defence.
Mbonu lent his voice to Nigeria’s political future, stressing, “equity and convention dictate the next President of Nigeria in 2023 would be from the Southeast region of Nigeria”.
On why more political leaders of Nigeria did not speak-out per the murder of visible Christian leaders, such as the Chairman of the “Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)” in Adamawa State, Mbonu said, “many of the Southern and Northern leaders, including Christian political leaders, are enmeshed in massive corruption, which makes them afraid to speak-out, because they fear a dusting up of their corruption files”.
He expressed belief that 2023 will usher-in completely new leadership in Nigeria, it will be an opportunity for new-generation leaders with zero corruption baggage, and 21st Century credentials to emerge on the political stage.
The statement was signed by Charles Adeyinka, his Senior Media Adviser
