BUHARI DECLARES, PLEDGES TO TACKLE INSECURITY, N/DELTA

By NBF News

General Muhammadu Buhari
FORMER Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday formally declared his intention to stand for the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), with a pledge to immediately tackle rampant cases of insecurity across the country.

In a marathon address at the declaration ceremony in Abuja yesterday, Buhari promised to evolve an overall security effort involving the Police, armed forces, civil society, traditional authorities and the public, with a view to arresting the country's rapid and palpable descent into anarchy.

'The main task of my government will be immediately to tackle rampant insecurity across the land because Nigerians do not feel secured in their homes,' Buhari said.

To achieve this, Buhari said recourse would be made to rural constabularies, neighbourhood watch and other forms of local and community based supervision, stressing that 'deployment, remuneration and discipline would be examined and implemented in the context of their suitability to localities, culture zones, communities and traditions.'

With regard to the Niger-Delta ,Buhari said it was tragic that the issue had become a focal point not only for oil production but also for what he termed 'a growing lawlessness and anarchy.'

While blaming the federal and state governments as well as the oil companies for not adequately addressing the fundamental long term issues, Buhari said: 'No responsible government will ignore the legitimate concerns of these members of our national community.'

Among those who attended the ceremony were Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State and CNPP Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former Speaker House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, as well as former Abia State Governor and PPA presidential aspirant, Orji Uzor Kalu.