Release names of terrorists’ sponsors – Former Sports Minister Dalung tasks Nigerian govt
Former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has called on the Federal Government to release names of terrorists’ sponsors if it wants Nigerians to believe it is truly fighting terrorism and insurgency in the country.
The Plateau State-born politician who made the call in a statement on Thursday, accused the Nigerian government of repeatedly failing to name or prosecute sponsors and financiers of terrorism in the country despite several promises and mounting evidence which it claimed to have gathered.
In the statement, Dalung noted that instead of the government acting decisively and promptly, it has resorted to distractions and half-truth.
Citing the recent comments by the lawmaker representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, who vehemently kicked against the idea of creating a state police, Dalung said both Gagdi’s stance and the reluctance of the government to name and prosecute terror sponsors were both hypocritical and absurd.
He stressed that even in Gagdi’s own constituency in Plateau State the people have suffered from attacks, kidnappings, killings, and displacement while little accountability has followed.
Dalung challenged Gagdi’s position that governors cannot be trusted with state police, arguing that the federal government-controlled security system has shown no better performance.
Dalung also recalled allegations against several public figures as sponsors of terrorists and wondered why those fingered have not been invited by the DSS for questioning.
“Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi South has been accused in media reports of aiding terrorists but there is no record that he has been invited by the DSS,” Dalung said.
He also claimed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, has, on different occasions, accused the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, of supporting bandits but he has not been arrested and prosecuted.
The former Minister further stated that Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had previously promised to publish names of financiers; but that promise has not been fulfilled.
“Past instances like when the UAE reportedly submitted the names of Nigerian terrorist sponsors to the government, are still fresh but the allegations have remained neither published nor prosecuted.
“Nigeria is nearing a breaking point. Unless names are released, prosecutions initiated, and constitutional reforms, such A’s state and community policing, enacted, Nigeria risks further insecurity, displacement, and erosion of trust in government,” he emphasized.
