The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, yesterday said the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency and general insecurity in the country was capable of spelling doom for the nation’s democracy and economic development.
This was stated yesterday by the president of the association, Mr. Austine Alegeh (SAN), while speaking at the valedictory court session organized by the Supreme Court for retiring Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mukhtar at the Supreme Court Complex.
Alegeh, who commended Justice Mukhtar for serving the judiciary creditably well, said the federal government seemed to have lost the capacity to secure the lives and property of its citizens, urging the government to address the increasing security challenges in the country as the 2015 elections draw near.
“The security challenges confronting us as a nation today threaten our democracy and economic development. As 2015 general elections are fast approaching, it is urgent and important for the Federal Government to address the current security challenges we are facing, as free and credible elections with large turnout of voters can only be achieved in a peaceful and secured environment,” he said.
Continuing, the NBA President said: “The question agitating our minds now is whether the government charged to protect lives and property of Nigerians no longer has the capacity to do so. This question arises in view of the audacity and temerity with which the Boko Haram insurgents are operating.
“They have recently extended their mode of operations to annexing some cities in the North-East of Nigeria and renaming them as if there is no government in place.
“Yet section 14(2) of the Constitution provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
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