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The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek foreign assistance from the United States, US, and other foreign countries in tackling the herdsmen menace in Nigeria.
The call was made by IYC President and Secretary, Eric Omare and Henry Iyalah, respectively, in an open letter to Buhari.
The council also warned of a likely breakdown of law and order in the country ahead the 2019 general election if the Federal Government failed to deal with the herdsmen menace.
According to IYC, “We urge Mr. President to use your foreign trips, including your trip to the United States, to seek support to stop the menace of herdsmen’s persistent killings and ensure free, fair and credible elections and not support to win election for yourself.
“The interest of the generality of Nigerians should be uppermost in your mind over and above your personal ambition to win re-election as President, in the interest of peace and security of our country, Nigeria. We also hope that you will not tell President Donald Trump that Nigerian youths are lazy.”
IYC also faulted the alleged manhandling of Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye by police officers.
The body said the alleged “Gestapo” treatment of Melaye was seen as a “strategy to silence opposing voices in the build up to the next general elections.”
Recall that Melaye was alleged to have jumped off a police van in Abuja while being transported to Kogi State to face criminal charges.
Following the incident, the lawmaker sustained injuries and is currently at the intensive care unit of the National Hospital in Abuja.
However, IYC alleged condemned the alleged ill-treatment meted at “political players” by security agencies.
The council added, “Mr. President, the IYC is concerned by the rising political tension in Nigeria arising from the treatment of some political players by the security agencies.
“It is highly condemnable that people who express opposing views to your administration are being harassed and maltreated.
“The hallmark of democracy is the right to hold an opinion and where this right is absent, then democracy is dead.
“The treatment being given to political figures such as Senator Dino Melaye and others is highly unacceptable and condemnable.
“The insinuation in the public is that the Gestapo treatment is part of your strategy to silence opposing voices in the build up to the next general elections.”
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