The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the federal government of wasting valuable time and resources on the meaningless fuel subsidy debate while neglecting the Boko Haram crisis that has continued to consume innocent citizens.
In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a day after dozens were killed in seemingly coordinated attacks across three states, the party said if the government had spent half of the resources it had devoted to the fuel subsidy issue on the Boko Haram crisis, and had organized as many consultations with stakeholders on Boko Haram as it had done on fuel subsidy, the crisis would have been resolved by now and hundreds of precious lives saved.
“There is no point in mincing words: this government has got its priorities wrong and has acted in a manner that suggests total disregard for human lives. Or how else does one explain a situation where citizens, including security agents, are being hacked down daily by the Boko Haram insurgents and all the government is doing is to waste time and resources on the phantom fuel subsidy issue?’’ ACN queried.
The party reiterated that the only way out of the Boko Haram crisis was constructive engagement, as it should by now be crystal clear to all advocates of force that no amount of force can crush the insurgency.
‘’The engagement must be preceded by a meeting of national stakeholders on security, which will harness the experience and wisdom of key people, including former heads of state, traditional and religious leaders, as well as past and present security and intelligence chiefs in seeking a lasting solution to the problem,” the party said.
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