Programme Officer, Centre for the Advocacy of Justice and Rights, Mr. Joseph Adeniran, has condemned what he described as provocative comments from some senior citizens regrading the declaration of state of emergency in three northern states.
Adeniran, in statement in Jos on Monday, said such comments were capable of derailing the good intentions of the government in its efforts to rid the country of growing acts of terrorism and threat to the corporate existence of the country.
In the statement, entitled, 'A threat to the corporate existence of Nogeria: The way forward', a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Jos on Monday, the group said the declaration of emergency rule in the three states was timely because for close a decade no day passed in Nigeria without the story of people killed in different pars of the country.
The statement said, "Since 2009, there has not been a single day that a Nigerian is not killed in one part of the country or the other, especially in states, like Borno, Yobe, Kano, Gombe, Plateau and of recent Nasarawa which has often been obviously motivated by issues (ethno-religious conflicts and political conflicts) that could have been resolved on the table of dialogue as life is sacred to human existence hence, its protection is eminent.
"We condemn the shameless and unpatriotic comments often made by ethnic, political, and religious leaders with regards to justification of such acts and the politicisation of such killings."
Meanwhile, a not-for-profit advocacy group, the National Think-Tank, has backed the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in three northern states to restore law and order.
In a statement by its National Media Director, Mr. Dele Agekameh, it said it would soon convene a national conference, where people would be free to ventilate their opinions on how to enthrone permanent peace in the country.
The group said only quick return of peace could guarantee the much-needed progress and development, which Nigerians had always clamoured for.
Also, the Arogbo-Ijaw National Front on Monday challenged northern leaders to intervene in the crisis of Boko Haram insurgence with a view to bringing the members of the sect to a round table discussion with the Federal Government.
The group also warned against comparing the Niger Delta struggle that led to the offer of amnesty by the Federal Government to the ongoing security threat created by the activities of Boko Haram.
The Punch