Former Minister of Defence (1999-2003), Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) on Friday said that the insecurity in the country has made Nigeria a laughing stock and a disgrace to the world.
General Danjuma, who was also a former Chief of Army Staff (1976-1979) spoke at the annual Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival in Ibbi Local Government Area of Taraba State, advising the federal government and all stakeholders to take urgent steps to address the security challenges facing the country.
According to Danjuma: “Nigerian authority must take urgent measures to redeem the battered image of the country by addressing the security challenges confronting the nation.”
General Danjuma noted that no person, especially foreigners, would be willing to come to the country to invest or visit tourist sites when their security was not guaranteed.
Stating that “no person or group of persons will want to come to our state or country if we continue to kill and butcher ourselves,” the respected retired General further raised the alarm that the security challenges across Nigeria has become an ugly situation that requires the immediate attention of the federal government.
Urging that all hands must be on deck in order to put “the right pegs in the right holes,” General Danjuma said: “Those in position of authority must work hard to make the country safe for all Nigerians including foreigners before we could attract more and more investors into the country.
“If we continue to make our roads unsafe for people to move around, our dreams of making Nwonyo fishing and cultural festival an international festival, can not be achieved. It is sad that Nigeria as a nation has become a laughing stock following the security challenges.
“As the country is currently, we are a disgrace to the whole world and therefore we must redeem our image and put our house in order because right now we have become a laughing stock to the whole world.”
Speaking at the event, Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, pledged that his administration would work round the clock to foster mutual cooperation between his State and the Taraba State Government.
