The use of state security for partisan battle is an invitation to anarchy - ARG

By Segun Balogun

The Afenifere Renewal Group [ARG] has warned against the use of state security agencies to perpetuate party political agenda.


Reacting to the closure of the National Assembly by the Senate President as a result of the harassment of the Speaker of the House of Representatives by security operatives, Wale Oshun, ARG's Chairman, said “there appears to be an implicit intent to disintegrate this country and it appears that this is being perpetuated with the use of tax-payer-funded security agencies. Such brazen attack on the legislature is an attack on all Nigerians. It means we are deceiving ourselves if we believe we are under a democratic regime. An attack on the legislature is an attempt to shut down democracy and return Nigeria to autocratic rule.”


We have recently experienced abuses of the judiciary. Now it appears the next tranche is an abuse of the legislative arm of government. The question is which arm of government is next? ARG needs to warn that where institutions fail to function in support of good governance, then such a nation is on the brink of collapse.


Just some days ago, police in South Africa were at loggerheads with South African members of parliament for absolving President Zuma of allegations of using public fund to develop personal property. That is an example of a country where institutions function accordingly unlike in Nigeria where everything is tied to President's apron strings.


Therefore, those that perpetrate these are inviting us to return to the trenches, and this time, we will fight the battle that will actualise our vision of and for a Yoruba Nation.


ARG will continue to agitate for a true federal structure as a way out of this chaos as what we are experiencing is one of the many negative consequences of an over centralised federal system that has proven to be a hindrance to our development as a people.