Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Sports and youths has reacted to the unending killings and kidnapping especially in the Northern part of the country, describing it as unfortunate and pathetic.
The former sports minister, Dalung said President Muhammadu Buhari should not be blamed alone for the insecurity in the country.
He stressed that injustice has been endorsed in governance and that fundamental principles of the nation’s founding fathers have been neglected.
Dalung said the reason peace has remained elusive in the north.
Dalung, who served as a minister under Buhari from 2015 to 2019, faulted the activities of the Service Chiefs for not curbing the kidnapping and killings in the country, especially in the north.
This position was made by the sports minister on Saturday at the launch of six books on Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, written by Professor, Khalid Abdullahi Zaria, held in Abuja.
Dalung advised Buhari to sack the Service Chief if they cannot put a stop to insecurity in the country.
His words: “The legacies of our founding fathers of this nation. They govern us especially in the north without any discrimination. Then there was peace, stability and the north developed.
“But today injustice has been endorsed in governance where these fundamental principles of equity have been neglected. And to my mind, this is why peace remains very illusive.
“And I challenge northern leaders to retrace their steps back to the legacies of the great founding fathers that united us.
“How can we in a situation where the security and Service Chiefs are all northerners? Not only northerners but they are also northern Muslims and you have merchant of men flourishing in the north.
“People are kidnapped and ransom paid every day. The common people have been impoverished through kidnapping and criminal act for ransom. If the mercenary of security is in the hands of the northerner and even the northern Muslims who are more victims of the violence that is going on now, then it is shameful.
“I do not what to completely continue to put the blame on President Muhammadu Buhari alone. He alone cannot govern Nigeria, he has appointed people and I think these people either need to deliver or they tell themselves the truth or on the alternative, the president should kick them out”.
He described Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, as a man of peace and: “a great Nigerians and an exceptional gift to this country. He represents a character of peace.”
The author of the books, Prof. Khalid Abdullahi Zaria said Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi has helped humanity and that his lifestyle should be emulated by all.
