Founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has called on Nigerians to stop the blame game over insecurity and instead unite in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to tackle the nation’s security challenges.
Aniebonam made the call when executive members of the Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN) paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Apapa, Lagos.
He stressed that security should not be seen as the sole responsibility of the Federal Government, noting that effective crime prevention requires the active involvement of citizens, communities and other stakeholders working with security agencies.
According to him, challenges such as kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities demand collective action, intelligence sharing and civic responsibility to support ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability.
“This is not the time to apportion blame. Those outside government often underestimate the scale of the challenges until they assume office and see the enormity of the problems,” he said.
Aniebonam identified drug abuse and distorted value systems as key drivers of insecurity, describing drug addiction as a self-inflicted problem that complicates law enforcement.
He also pointed to entrenched interests and inherited structural problems, citing the power sector as an example of issues that take time for any administration to resolve.
While acknowledging that no government is without shortcomings, he urged Nigerians to exercise patience and rally behind the current leadership.
Aniebonam commended President Tinubu for respecting due process in the handling of the terrorism case involving Nnamdi Kanu, noting that the President allowed the judiciary to act without interference.
He added that after the conclusion of legal proceedings, the President retains the constitutional power to grant prerogative of mercy in the interest of national unity.
The NNPP founder also emphasized the need for dialogue and stakeholder engagement to address the root causes of unrest, expressing confidence in the judiciary to resolve the internal crisis within his party.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo