A Civil Society Organisation, Aminchi Centre for Social Advocacy and Development Initiative, has rejected the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) to the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, over the worsening security situation in Sokoto State.
The group urged MURIC and other stakeholders to avoid reducing Nigeria’s complex national security architecture to the office of one individual, stressing that tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime requires coordinated efforts by multiple institutions.
The Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman of the organisation, Ibrahim Shuni, made the position known while addressing journalists in Sokoto.
Shuni was reacting to MURIC’s demand that the Defence Minister should stop the killings in Sokoto within 14 days or resign.
He described the ultimatum as misplaced, arguing that the Federal Ministry of Defence is a complex institution with distinct civilian, military, administrative and professional responsibilities.
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“The Federal Ministry of Defence is a complex institution comprising civilian administrative structure and the military components of the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, as well as several defence institutions and agencies.
“The official organisational structure of the ministry itself demonstrates this distinction.
“The minister sits at the policy level, while the Permanent Secretary and various departments, agencies and military authorities perform distinct statutory and professional responsibilities,” he said.
According to him, it would be misleading to portray the Defence Minister as the individual who personally commands every soldier, determines every military deployment or directs every tactical operation across the country.
He noted that the minister also does not have the unilateral capacity to prevent every criminal or terrorist attack occurring in different parts of Nigeria.
“National security is a system. It requires the coordinated efforts of the Presidency, Armed Forces, Police, intelligence agencies, state governments, local governments, traditional institutions, communities and citizens,” Shuni said.
The CSA chairman acknowledged the concerns raised by MURIC over the killings, abductions and growing insecurity in Sokoto and other parts of the country.
He said the loss of innocent lives remained a serious concern that required urgent and sustained action from government and security institutions.
“Every Nigerian has a legitimate right to demand effective security. No responsible government or security institution should be complacent about the loss of lives,” he said.
However, Shuni argued that the manner in which MURIC issued its ultimatum raised questions about the organisation’s understanding of the workings of the Federal Government and the institutional responsibilities within the defence sector.
“MURIC also needs to understand the constitutional chain of command of the Armed Forces, and importantly, the shared responsibility of citizens in confronting insecurity,” he said.
He further stressed that the appointment and removal of ministers were matters governed by the constitutional powers and processes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, rather than decisions that could be imposed through ultimatums by pressure groups.
Shuni therefore called on civil society organisations, political leaders, community leaders and citizens to channel their concerns towards constructive engagement and practical solutions to the security challenges confronting the country.
He urged Nigerians to focus less on assigning blame to individuals and more on strengthening the collective response against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and violent crime.
“The real challenge before all Nigerians is therefore, not ‘Who should we blame?’ It is ‘What can each of us do to help Nigeria defeat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and violent crime?’” he said.
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