TheCable

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has reasoned that some disgruntled politicians are jittery that their evil pact with Boko Haram will be exposed should the service chiefs remain in office.

The group made this disclosure on Monday during a press conference in Abuja in response to a publication calling for the removal of the country’s military heads.

In a statement signed by National Coordinator, Gabriel Onoja, CATE said some top politicians are championing this agenda.

The group added that these politicians in Borno state and parts of the north-east used Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists as enforcers during election and are desperately trying to keep it hidden.

The Coalition, however, warned that Nigerians will not fold their hands and allow a handful of misguided politicians throw the country into confusion simply to satisfy their greed and selfish desire.

“The attention of the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has been drawn to a widely circulated publication by a group of disgruntled elements in the National Assembly populated majorly by politicians from the north east. The sponsored publication by the group was urging President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the service chiefs with lie that it is the only way to stem the rising insecurity in Nigeria,” Onoja said.

“Whilst like every other Nigerian, CATE respects the rights of the lawmakers to freely express themselves as it pleases them especially in a plural democracy like ours, what they should not do is to hide under altruistic intervention in national issues to advance a criminal agenda. This evil agenda, though long suspected in the public space, was validated by President Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to Borno state where he openly confirmed that the political class is responsible for the security situation there.

“It is therefore unacceptable to Nigerians that some people abuse their high offices to direct deliberate falsehood at citizens with the aim of further degrading the security situation in the country. The lies being peddled by these elements and the amount of resources being deployed to execute this campaign could have been better deployed to productively engage the youths of the north east who have become susceptible to the antics of Boko Haram recruitment agents due to idleness, lack of education and sources of livelihood.”