Elumelu says Operation Positive Identification is militarisation
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, has described the planned nationwide implementation of Operation Positive Identification (OPI) by the army as a recipe for militarilisation of the country.
Elumelu in a statement yesterday maintained that such a plan by the army would lead to the infringement on citizens’ fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
He stressed that the plan if allowed, would downgrade innocent Nigerians to suspects and conquered people in their own country, strip them of their constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of movement and instill fear, anxiety, and panic in the polity.
The lawmaker pointed out that many Nigerians, particularly those in the rural areas, would be victimised, as there had not been enough sensitisation for such operation.
Meanwhile Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that concerted action by countries around the world was critical towards tackling terrorism in the Sahel region, and the challenges posed by Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Africa.
Prof. Osinbajo made the declaration when he received a delegation of members of Egypt’s Parliament (House of Representatives) led by its speaker, Dr. Ali Abdel-Aal Sayed Hamad.
The delegation also included the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Assem Elseify.
Hamad said Egypt shared the same view with Nigeria that concerted efforts were needed to combat terrorism in the Sahel.
Osinbajo, who received the delegation on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that Egypt and Nigeria had shared cordial relations over the years.
“Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, we’ve always had friendly relations and cooperation with the Republic of Egypt. We know that this very friendly and brotherly relation will continue,” he said.
On the issue of security challenges on the continent, the vice president urged for more concerted global action to prevent similar escalating situations in some parts of the Middle East as related to ISIS.
He said, “We would want to urge that Egypt join us in calling upon the world to immediately see the need for concerted action against Boko Haram, ISWAP and terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, in particular.”
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