Katsina State Chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has described the recent call by the state Governor Aminu Masari in his 2022 new year message for citizens to acquire arms, as a clear indication that government and governance has failed.
The Northwest Coordinator of the group, Jamilu Charanchi in a statement as a rejoinder said, the call is also an indication that Nigerians are living in a failed state.
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Charanchi noted that, statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics for the last quarter of 2020 showed that Katsina has 25.5 percent unemployment rate with about 438,808 people unemployed which is a sign of danger resulting from failure of effective leadership.
He also added that, it is ridiculous to think of arming hungry and angry people of a state like Katsina with poverty rate of close to 80 percent, making it second poorest state in Nigeria and expect to achieve positive results.
In a rhetorical question, the Coalition asked, How will you expect an already vulnerable civilian who has been subjected to bad governance presented with an opportunity to possess arm end banditry?
According to Charanchi, acquiring weapons by citizens in the name of self-defence will increase bandit cells, lead to greater instability and deepen insecurity.
He noted that, it is ridiculous that besides the challenges of border porosity, Katsina state is leading in terms of unemployment and number of poor people in the Country adding that, these two are the most influential variables that trigger criminality and other social vices bedevilling the state.
The Coalition further advised Masari to pay more attention in the fight to alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment and economic hardship and most importantly prioritise the lives of the people who sacrifice a lot during electioneering.
They also called on the Governor to bury the thought of self defence and admit to the people of Katsina that he is no longer in control and cannot foster solutions to their societal problems.
The Coalition are therefore urging Masari to either seek for genuine help or kindly resign saying; the state and the good people of the state need and deserve better governance.
( Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
