INSECURITY: AREWA YOUTHS BACK AZAZI ON COMMENTS

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) on Tuesday urged Nigerians to look beyond politics in reacting to the allegations of the  National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Andrew Owoeye Azazi  against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the state of insecurity in the country.

Azazi  on Friday at the South South Summit in Asaba, Delta State, said the PDP should be partly blamed for the increasing destruction visited on Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect, noting that the ruling party had not acted responsibly in taking the decisions that had security implications for the country.

Addressing Newsmen in Lagos yesterday, AYCF President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima said that rather than raising eyebrows over the comments, security agencies should try and look at the fundamental issues raised by Azazi.

His words: 'Azazi's office is not political. He owes a duty to Nigeria. The security issue in Nigeria makes the survival of the nation more important than a political party. Nigerians are all aware of comments made during elections by some politicians who felt that because they lost their chances for the Presidency, promised they would make the nation ungovernable

'We cannot continue to run the nation like a Banana Republic. In other climes people who make such inflammatory political comments would be first to be picked for investigations and questioning.''

Yerima said that rather than castigate Azazi, Security Agencies should go back to the drawing board and take a new look on where and when it all began with a view to nipping the ugly scene in the bud.

“Azazi was appointed by a PDP-led government. For him to boldly make such allegations knowing the implications, is enough reason for the nation to support him in doing whatever it takes to bring those involved to book,' the youth leader stated.

The AYCF President however, warned that nothing should happen to the NSA who he said was doing his best to bring an end to terrorism in Nigeria, pointing out that ''Azazi's responsibility is not to wage war, but to advise and he must therefore be allowed to excel.''