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Zamfara killings: Fayose justifies criticism of $1bn ECA withdrawal

By Ayodele Afolabi, Ado-Ekiti
18 February 2018   |   5:18 am
Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has justified his criticism of the Federal Government’s plan to deduct $1billion from the Excess Crude Oil Account (ECA) to fund the fight against insurgency. 

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State

Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has justified his criticism of the Federal Government’s plan to deduct $1billion from the Excess Crude Oil Account (ECA) to fund the fight against insurgency.

It followed an allegation by his Zamfara counterpart, Abdulaziz Yari, that security agencies failed to respond to an alert warning of impending killings in the state.

Fayose, who addressed newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, said money budgeted for security has not been properly used. He regretted that instead of insecurity being curtailed, the nation was witnessing more killings on a daily basis.

In the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose questioned why security agencies should get more funds. “Governor Yari is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum. He was the one saying we should give $1billion from the ECA to these security people. He said despite alerting security agencies over 24 hours before the needless killings in his state, they failed to act.

“That was not the first time such a thing would happen. Recall that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said the same thing. Also, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State said a similar thing.

“On all those occasions, the security agencies failed to act. More than 73 people were killed in Benue, scores killed in Taraba. And we now have the Zamfara issue. Regrettably, the killings have not stopped. If as a country we spend so much money on security, with practically no result, where is the justification for another round of funding? Fund an inept security apparatus?”

Fayose noted: “The Zamfara issue is not only inhuman but unfortunate. This must not continue. And we must tell the Federal Government to do something. The killings we have witnessed in this country from 2015 till date are unprecedented and perhaps never seen in the history of our country since independence. Are we in a war?

“We must stop wasting people’s lives and use the $1billion for the welfare of our people in other sectors. The All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has lost it.”

Fayose also challenged President Buhari to tell Nigerians how many culprits have been arrested or prosecuted, adding: “It is like Buhari is living on another planet. He is disconnected from the people and the reality on ground. He does not seem to be in tune with reality. People are tired of lies and cheap propaganda. His government has failed the nation and he should just throw in the towel.”

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