A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the nation’s security chiefs following the unabated killings of Nigerians across the country.
He was responding to the fresh killing of soldiers in Borno State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, expressing deep concern over the rising wave of insecurity, banditry, and kidnappings.
Frank in a statement described the situation as a national tragedy that requires urgent executive action.
According to him, Nigerians are being killed “like chickens” daily across the North, South, East, and West, a clear indication that the country’s security architecture has collapsed under the current leadership.
“Our soldiers and policemen are dying in large numbers due to poor funding and lack of proper equipment. Despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the funds do not reach the men and women on the front lines, nor are they used to purchase the right equipment needed to combat insecurity,” Frank said.
He said that the continuous killings have attracted international attention and commended US President Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz, for their advocacy on behalf of Nigerians, especially their condemnation of the incessant killing of Nigerians in parts of the country.
“We commend President Donald Trump for his concern and moral courage in speaking against the killings of Nigerians. We equally commend Senator Ted Cruz for lending his voice to these injustices. Their actions have helped to break the silence of our political class, especially those in the ruling party”, the statement added.
Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also urged the United States government, under the leadership of President Trump and other international partners, to intensify pressure on the Nigerian government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“This administration cannot continue to negotiate with terrorists while detaining innocent and peaceful Nigerians. We therefore call on the international community, especially the US government, to intervene and pressurise President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu immediately,” he said.
The statement also commended President Trump for his leadership in facilitating negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, urging him to “show the same compassion and leadership” by lending his voice to the call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
He also lauded activist Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), for boldly leading the call for Kanu’s unconditional release from detention.
On Nigeria–US relations, Frank emphasised the importance of preserving the historic friendship between both nations.
“Nigeria has always maintained a cordial relationship with the United States. We will not allow any government or individuals to destroy that friendship. As Nigerians, we remain committed to strengthening our ties with the US in the interest of peace, democracy, and global security,” he said.
He lambasted the Nigerian Senate for criticising Ted Cruz over his comments about killing of innocent Nigerians describing them a as a “disgrace and disappointment.”
“If the Senate and by extension the National Assembly had faithfully and diligently carried out their constitutional mandate of oversight and representation in checkmating executive recklessness like the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and getting the security chiefs to act in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, Senator Ted Cruz would not have picked on Nigeria as a good example of unwarranted attacks, killings and intimidation of innocent citizens by deadly gangs.
“Look at how they took their time to respond to Senator Ted Cruz’s comments, while they failed over the years to stand for justice by calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu or to ensure through their oversight powers that the security chiefs live up to their mandate to protect defenceless Nigerians from horrific attacks and killings,” he said.
Friday Olokor
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