TheCable

A group known as the civil society organisations in defence of national security has warned critics of President Muhammadu Buhari against destabilising the security of the country.

The CSO’s warning is coming on the heels of the claim made by Obadiah Mailafia, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), that a governor from the north is the leader of Boko Haram.

Mailafia made the claim while being interviewed on radio in Abuja on Monday.

Following his claim, the Department of State Services (DSS) invited him to its office in Jos, Plateau state.

Addressing supporters after his release from DSS custody on Wednesday, Mailafia said he stood by what he said and that he was ready to lay down his life for Nigeria.

But in an interview with BBC Hausa on Thursday, Mailafia said he got the information from “some Fulani traders” in the market and did not know that his statement would go viral.

Speaking during a solidarity march at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, on Friday, Joe Mesele, coordinator of the CSO, urged Nigerians to be patriotic and desist from making inciting comments that could affect the peace and development of the country.

He noted that the service chiefs are not the problem, adding that even if they are replaced, security is still a matter of collective effort.

He said no one, in the name of freedom of expression, should be allowed to destroy the nation through their utterances.

“They just want to destabilise our national security and consequently destroy Nigeria because of their hatred for Buhari,” the leader of the group said.

“To this group of people, we want to remind them that Mr. President’s tenure is just three years, but Nigeria remains till God calls. So will you because of three years pull down the nation on all of us?

“We have heard some governors and individuals making reckless statements, some even treasonable. Yes, we know and support freedom of expression which is paramount but will you in the name of freedom of expression destroy the nation that gave you an identity?”

He said instead of castigating Buhari and security agents, such critics “should beam their searchlight on the double-dealing political, religious and ethnic jingoists who are hell-bent on destroying the fabric of our national security in order to advance their selfish interests”.

“We ask that you cease and desist for the sake of peace and development of Nigeria,” he said.

According to Mesele, the group is lending its voice to the ongoing debate on how to strengthen the morale of security agents and the overall national security architecture.

He called on Nigerians to give the security agencies due support, noting that the Buhari-led administration is winning the war against insecurity.

“Nigeria is passing through a trying time that calls for men of goodwill to stand to be counted. And it so happened that God made it possible for President Muhammadu Buhari to be at the helm at this point in time,” he said.

“To this end, what is required of Nigerians as patriotic citizens is to give Mr. President all the support he needs, not because you like him but for the sake of our nation and future of our children.

“Therefore, there is no better time for this clarion call to all including opposition politicians, religious and socio-cultural organisations, especially those who have made it their pastime to denigrate and jeorpadise our national security in order to aim a cheap shot at the presidency.”