The Katsina State Elders Forum (KSEF) has voiced strong disapproval of the Federal Government’s handling of key issues, including security, economic hardship, and controversial LGBT policies.
The forum also slammed the government’s inadequate response to the rampant banditry threatening lives across 12 local government areas in the state.
It urged President Bola Tinubu to swiftly handle the problems highlighted.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari is from Katsina State, north-west Nigeria.
During a press briefing, Secretary Malam Aliyu Mohammed highlighted the dire challenges facing Katsina State and urged the federal government to take immediate action to address these pressing concerns.
The statement read, “We have tried as much as possible and have complained severally to the Federal Government to complement what the state government is doing to protect lives and property in our dear state. The Federal government has not lived up to expectations. These hoodlums keep on killing our people, burning their properties, claiming their farms, and destroying their houses.”
Aliyu sounded the alarm on the precarious safety situation in Katsina State, expressing worries about the well-being of residents and travellers.
He also directed scathing criticism at the two Defence Ministers, demanding to know why they have failed to take concrete steps to mitigate the security threats plaguing the region.
He said, “If you are travelling, you are not sure of coming back. If you leave home, you are not sure of coming back to meet your people safe. And it is really unfortunate that the so-called Defence Ministers are from the North.
“We don’t know what they are doing. They have not done enough to protect the North. And it is unfortunate that these killers are only in this part of the country. We are really disturbed.
“They have killed hundreds of people in Katsina. Nobody, none of the ministers or the president deemed it fit to come and condole the people of Katsina State and provide some succour to cushion the impact on the victims. That’s why you see a lot of beggars everywhere. This is as a result of this banditry.
“The Katsina State Governor has done his best. He floated the Security Watch Corps and they are doing their best. But unfortunately, the community corps are not allowed to handle sophisticated weapons like the bandits.”
“We are calling on the federal government to come up with immediate measures. Let them introduce jungle battalions. Put these soldiers in the forest, let them remain there and fight the bandits.
“The bandits are known and they also know where they are. We are calling on Mr President to please save the North, for goodness sake. Save Katsina State,” he added.
The forum also voiced strong opposition to the federal government’s alleged recent actions regarding LGBTQ+ rights, specifically the reported signing of a SAMOA deal by the government. The forum expressed strong disapproval and concern over this development.
“Katsina State vehemently objects to this arrangement because we are 98 percent Muslims. Even Christianity is against this same-sex marriage. We are begging Mr. President to reverse this decision with immediate effect. Nigerians are not happy and everybody is crying,” it said.
The forum presented a dire assessment of the current state of affairs, highlighting the pervasive hunger and economic hardship faced by many. They attributed these stark realities to the Federal Government’s inability to provide fundamental necessities, such as food security and economic opportunities, to its citizens.
“Our people are very poor. There is hunger and abject poverty in our region. Everywhere you go, you see people begging because they don’t have what to eat,” it said.