The Conference of Northern Nigeria School Proprietors (CNNSP) and the Coalition of Nothern Elders for Peace and National Unity (CNEPNU) have lauded the Armed Forces of Nigeria over the recent rescue of 137 pupils of LEA School in Kuriga, Chikum Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The two groups submitted that the action demonstrated the capacity and capability of the Military to deal with threats to national security and public safety.
Consequently, both groups have passed a vote of confidence on the Service Chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa.
While reiterating their continuous support for the military and other security agencies, they called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard a statement issued by the Arewa Coalition Against Insecurity, calling for the sack of the nation’s Service Chiefs over an imaginary insecurity situation.
The group in a statement by one Adamu Bature on Friday urged Tinubu to relieve the Service Chiefs of their positions due to the alleged escalating security situation in Nigeria.
The group accused the service chiefs of incompetence and complicity in the nation’s security problems.
But reacting to the group’s claim in a joint statement on Friday, the Conference of Northern Nigeria School Proprietors, a group of proprietors of private schools at all levels in Northern Nigeria and Nothern Elders for Peace and National Unity, dismissed the Arewa group’s claim even as they described the group as faceless.
Dr Hassan Ibrahim Funtua signed the joint statement for the Conference of Northern Nigeria School Proprietors, consisting of over 300 private schools in northern Nigeria. Prof Abdulkadir Mohammed signed on behalf of the Coalition of Nothern Elders for Peace and National Unity as its National Coordinator.
While the proprietors’ group is made up of over 300 school owners from the Northern region of the country, the elder’s conference comprises at least 50 respected men and women whose interest is the safety of schoolchildren in the zone, as well as the offering of maximum support to government and her various institutions, especially military and security agencies.
They challenged the Arewa group to come forward with proof that the government allegedly paid N1 billion as ransom for the release of the abducted pupils in a live television debate.
“It is with a deep sense of patriotism that we, the Conference of Northern Nigeria School Proprietors (CNNSP) and the Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and National Unity (CNEPNU), issue this statement to pass a vote of confidence in our Service Chiefs, ably led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa.
“We are aware of the rot that these service chiefs inherited upon their respective appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has demonstrated the readiness to return Nigeria to the path of peace, order and good governance.
“A juxtaposition of the security situation in the country, before the appointment of the subsisting Military High Command and now, shows a significant improvement in the nation’s security architecture, with a corresponding impact on the security situation.”
