Zamfara killings vindicates my stand against using $1bn ECA money to fund inept security apparatus —Fayose

Ekiti State’s Governor Ayodele Fayose has said that the blame on security agencies for the mass killings in Zamfara State has vindicated his stance against withdrawing $1billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fund the fight against insurgency.

Zamfara State governor and chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari, had claimed that security agencies failed to respond to the alert given them to prevent the last week mass massacre people in the state.

But Fayose, who is the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum chairman, in his reaction described Nigerian security agencies as inept, arguing that Yari’s claim has vindicated his position against releasing the $1bn ECA fund to them.

Fayose, who addressed newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, said funds being spent on security seemed not well used, as instead of insecurity being curtailed, the nation was unfortunately witnessing more killings on a daily basis.

The statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, quoted Fayose as saying that if security agencies were not properly utilising the funds given them, “why giving them more.”

“Governor Yari is the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, he is the one saying we should give $1 billion from ECA to these security people and he said despite alerting security agencies over 24 hours before the needless killings in his state, they failed to rise to the occasion. 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 the 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?

“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 is unprecedented and perhaps never seen in the history of our country since Independence. Are we in a war situation?

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

Fayose, who also had a poser for President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that despite the president’s usual directive of security people assessing the situation, he challenged the president to tell Nigerians how many culprits have been arrested or prosecuted.

READ ALSO : Gov Yari dissapointed that Buhari’s coming has increased spate of killings

“It is like President Buhari is living on another planet not to say
country. 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,” he stated.

Fayose also faulted the APC government of claiming glory for projects and policies put in place by the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The drone that President Jonathan launched some years ago, they now woke up now to say their government has achieved a feat in that regards. May be they think the people are fools and have no sense of history. Nigerians will show them during the election,” he added.

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