The federal government has replied allegations by former Abia state governor, Orji Kalu, that security agents were responsible for the series of recent bombings in the country, describing it as outlandish and irresponsible.
Kalu had on Tuesday, while hosting members of the FCT chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said the security agencies and not the Boko Haram were to blame in some of the bombings in the northern part of the country, saying that they were doing it to attract more funding from the federal allocation.
Reacting to the allegation, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said such an allegation was unbecoming of such a highly placed former public official whose words could dampen the enthusiasm of the security personnel who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of the country.
His words : "There has not been any month that passed without the police or the military lossing their own personnel in the course of recent challenges that this nation has faced, particularly in the area of the terrorist violence in the northern part of the country. And the least that is expected of us as leaders and citizens is that we Shiism appreciate the sacrifices of members of our armed forces.
"I can tell you that there is no family in this nation that will like to loose their children who have taken up the uniform to defend the territorial integrity of this country and to secure our lives.
"So when we sit out and make those outlandish accusations, what we do is to show ingratitude, is to show lack of sensitivity, and lack of responsibility. And this is really very sad. This is truly very sad.
"Check other countries, when America deploys their troops and security forces to defend their country, you see that their citizens speak with responsibility. But in Nigeria we have politicized virtually every aspect of our country including ongoing security operations," Maku said.
------------Elizabeth Embu, Daily Times, March 27, 2013
Kalu had on Tuesday, while hosting members of the FCT chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said the security agencies and not the Boko Haram were to blame in some of the bombings in the northern part of the country, saying that they were doing it to attract more funding from the federal allocation.
Reacting to the allegation, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said such an allegation was unbecoming of such a highly placed former public official whose words could dampen the enthusiasm of the security personnel who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of the country.
His words : "There has not been any month that passed without the police or the military lossing their own personnel in the course of recent challenges that this nation has faced, particularly in the area of the terrorist violence in the northern part of the country. And the least that is expected of us as leaders and citizens is that we Shiism appreciate the sacrifices of members of our armed forces.
"I can tell you that there is no family in this nation that will like to loose their children who have taken up the uniform to defend the territorial integrity of this country and to secure our lives.
"So when we sit out and make those outlandish accusations, what we do is to show ingratitude, is to show lack of sensitivity, and lack of responsibility. And this is really very sad. This is truly very sad.
"Check other countries, when America deploys their troops and security forces to defend their country, you see that their citizens speak with responsibility. But in Nigeria we have politicized virtually every aspect of our country including ongoing security operations," Maku said.
------------Elizabeth Embu, Daily Times, March 27, 2013
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