A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Muhammadu Buhari if the spate of killings in the country persist.
The CSOs made the call following a controversial statement made by the Minister of Defence, General Bashir Maghasi, who urged Nigerians to ‘take up arms to defend themselves’ while reacting to the kidnap of students in Niger State.
In a statement issued on Monday, a total of 68 CSOs condemned the statement and urged the Federal Government to ‘acquire the necessary equipment to deal with the menace of terrorism, banditry and abduction.’
“Our children are no longer safe in schools and Nigerian citizens and communities are now pauperised by terrorists who extort huge ransoms while murdering their hostages. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, what has now become the government’s standard state policy of using taxpayers’ money to pay terrorists thereby funding and encouraging terrorism and criminality.
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“President Muhammadu Buhari and his government have failed in their primary duty under Section 14 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution which is ensuring the security and welfare of the Nigerian people. Instead, under their watch, Nigeria is now a catalogue of bloodletting with; The unending war in the North East with our troops often bearing the brunt of this government’s security failures; Gross injustices by President Buhari’s government against the Nigerian people such that peaceful protesters are threatened and attacked by the government’s security agents while terrorists carrying out mass murder, rape, maiming and kidnapping of Nigerians including women and children are feted, molly coddled, granted ‘amnesty’ and paid by the government.
“We call on the President to take immediate steps to provide political and moral leadership for the security crisis and ensure governmental actions are humane in tandem with Section 17 (2) ( C ) of the Constitution; The Nigeria Police Council should be called to meet regularly to address the crisis of insecurity; End impunity for abuse of power and sectionalism through his appointments by balancing the need for competence with the federal character principle.
“Amnesty for terrorists and abductors should stop. Huge ransom paid to criminal gangs is used to purchase arms and ammunition to attack communities. As security is technology driven the Government must acquire the necessary equipment to deal with the menace of terrorism, banditry and abduction.
“Take responsibility and end the persecution of the media and free speech both of which are foundations of a democratic state; Mobilize our rich Nigerian assets to address the insecurity situation across the country and seek international cooperation to ramp up security assets.
“Where the President fails to fulfil his constitutional duties as stated above, we demand he steps aside or the National Assembly initiates impeachment proceedings against him on grounds of gross misconduct as provided for in Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Conclusion We remain hopeful as citizens of Nigeria and call on all Nigerians to keep hope alive as we bond together and build a nation where true peace and justice reign,” the statement read in part.
The statement was signed by the following 1. Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) 2. Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT) 3. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) 4. Media Rights Agenda (MRA) 5. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) 6. Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) 7. Zero-Corruption Coalition (ZCC) 8. Partners on Electoral Reform 9. African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) 10. National Procurement Watch Platform 11. Praxis Center 12. Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civil Education (CHRICED) 13. Social Action 14. Community Action for Popular Participation 15. Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP) 16. Global Rights 17. Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE) 18. YIAGA Africa 19. Tax Justice and Governance Platform 20. Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria 21. Women In Nigeria 22. African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) 23. Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre(RULAAC) 24. Women Advocate Research And Documentation Centre 25. Community Life Project 26. Nigerian Feminist Forum 27. Alliances for Africa 28. Spaces for Change 29. Nigerian Women Trust Fund 30. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa 31. BudgiT Foundation 32. State of the Union (SOTU) 33. Action International Nigeria 34. Femi Falana Chamber 35. HEDA Resource Centre 36. Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution 37. Organization Community Civic Engagement(OCCEN) 38. Say NO Campaign—Nigeria 39. Women In Media 40. Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) 41. Sesor Empowerment Foundation 42. House of Justice 43. Molluma Medico-Legal Center 44. Open Bar Initiative 45. Tap N’Itiative 46. Partners West Africa, Nigeria (PWAN) 47. We The People 48. Lex Initiative for Rights Advocacy and Development (LIRAD Nigeria) 49. Centre for Impact Advocacy 50. Actionaid 51. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation 52. FEMBUD 53. Raising New Voices Initiative 54. Haly Hope Foundation 55. Centre for Liberty 56. Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution 57. Adopt a Goal for Development Initiative 58. Education as a Vaccine 59. Stand to End Rape 60. TechHer 61. Invictus Africa 62. Dinidari Foundation 63. International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) 64. Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) 65. Mowalek Centre for Sustainable Community Development 66. Silverchip Fox 67. Connected Development 68. Srarina Initiative for Peace, Justice and Development (SIPJAD)
