March 19, 2013 by Ade Adesomoju
Chairman, Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, and other activists, on Monday blamed the Kano park suicide bombing on the Federal Government.
They said the government had demonstrated it was incompetent to tackle the nation’s insecurity problem.
While Mr. Bamidele Aturu, urged the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government to own up to its incompetence, Mr. Fred Agbaje, said the attackers were emboldened by the recent pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, described the attack as a “direct reaction of Northern insurgents to the unthoughtful provocative, unstatemanly and insensitive action and pronouncement of President Jonathan to the plight of an average Northern youth”.
Ubani described the attack as “horrendous” and wondered how many more lives would be lost before a “practicable” solution was discovered to end “the madness”, which he said was capable of leading, the collapse of the nation.
He said, “This senseless destruction of lives and properties and the apparent failure by the government apparatus at all levels to put a stop to it draws this country to the brinks.
“Are Nigerians not seeing the alluring processes leading to the collapse of this nation? Is the American prediction about Nigeria not starring us in the face? I am totally exasperated and alarmed.”
On his part, Aturu urged Nigerians to prevail on the government, which according to him is adamant, to do what is right.
“The government must use its intelligence to make sure that they reach out to people who they can discuss with and whatever they need to do so that we can solve this problem. But this government is adamant so we must prevail it so that it does the right thing,” he said.
Agbaje said the attack showed government’s insensitivity to the security and the welfare of the people. He added that the President was more concerned about his 2015 ambition, which he said, had pushed aside the administration’s duty to the people.
He said, “Does the Federal Government care about the citizens’ welfare and security? Otherwise, a caring and consulting government would not have granted pardon to the Bulamas and Alamieyeseghas of this world. The incident has now emboldened the militants.”