The National Committee of Yoruba Youth and the Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria, have supported the planned withdrawal of $1bn from the excess crude account to fight insurgency.
However, the groups urged the Federal government to ensure accountability and transparency, in the utilization of the fund, saying Nigerians eagerly await a total end to the Boko Haram insurgency as the year 2018 approaches.
It would be recalled that the approval of $1bn by the National Economic Council (NEC) last week has been generating ripples in the polity with some groups and the opposition party opposing the move.
But the groups at a media briefing in Lagos, addressed by its Convener, Odeyemi Oladimeji said those opposing the move were “unpatriotic political opponents” working to frustrate the efforts by the Federal government to put a timely end to the reign of the Boko Haram insurgents in the country.
Oladimeji added that they are desperate politicians who take pleasure in supporting the activities of the insurgents, and are ready to continually exploit same, for their selfish political gains.
The groups described those opposed to the Governors’ decision to further fund the war against Boko Haram as “unpatriotic, self serving, and sympathizers of Boko Haram, and as such, shouldn’t be taken serious, by Nigerians”.
“While we sincerely recognize the right of every Nigerians, to hold their opinion, as expected in a democratic setting such as ours, it is sad, that rather than providing a collective response towards ensuring that the menace of terrorism is completely eradicated from our country, some persons remain resolute at making political gains, out of a situation that has rendered many of our brothers and sisters homeless, turned children to orphans and seeing communities desolated.
“It is our opinion as young Nigerians, that the generosity of the Governors, be applauded by Nigerians, as it will in doubt, increase the capacity of our military, to frontally confront the remnants of the insurgents, who are still desperately making attempt, to further escalate the now relatively curtailed situation, particularly in the North East part of the country.
"We want to further urge Nigerians, to disregard the criticism by these desperate politicians, who are supportive of the insurgency, through their utterances and body language, in such manners that are already known to all Nigerians”.
