A mother cries for her missing daughter abducted in 2014 by Boko Haram Islamists, during a march to press for the release of the schoolgirls kidnapped in 2014 from their school in Chibok by the Islamist group, in Abuja on January 14, 2016. Parents of the some 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in April 2014, marched along with members of the civil society and the "Bring Back Our Girls" movement, towards the presidency to press for speedy rescue of the schoolgirls, as Nigeria's government declared the Islamist group "technically defeated". / AFP / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

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Past injustices reason for current security challenges — Kebbi Senator

Per Second NewsMay 9, 2021325

Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, has attributed the current high level of insecurity in the country to “injustices inflicted in the past.”

The All Progressive Congress (APC) senator representing Kebbi State, called for assistance from “responsible citizens of this country to ensure that we put this behind us.”

Na’Allah spoke to State House correspondents after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja at the weekend.

He said: “These are issues that the previous injustices that we have done to ourselves, collectively and individually, are manifesting.

“It is only unfortunate that they are manifesting now when this government is in place and that is reason why the government, not being directly responsible for this situation, should be assisted with whatever assistance from any responsible citizen of this country to ensure that we put this behind us.

“Whether anybody likes it or not, the truth is this country will remain one because the factors that bring the country together are stronger than the ones that seek to divide it.
” I think that every responsible Nigerian should understand this and make sure that he gives his or her own contribution to ensure that we have a very formidable and resilient country.”

The lawmaker urged Nigerians to put pressure on their representatives in the National Assembly to pass the amendments to the Electoral Act.

He spoke against concerns raised by stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that the amendments may not be passed early enough for the 2023 general elections.

Na’Allah noted that even though public hearing has been completed and inputs taken, there was “need for the lawmakers to do the right thing”.

“Luckily, I’m a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters. So, I must be given the benefit of knowing what is going on.

“We have finished our public hearing, we have taken inputs, there are certain things that no matter how you try to be accommodative enough, they are practically impossible.

“But those ones that guarantee a free and fair electoral process have been taken into account and I’m very sure we will give Nigerians an Electoral Act that they will be very proud of,” the senator was quoted as saying.