August 10, (THEWILL) – The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has notified Security Agencies in Abuja of its planned protest, if Gen Babagana Monguno (retd), the National Security Adviser (NSA) remained in office after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum.
The Group, in a letter dated August 8, and signed by its Speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, notified the various security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as the office of the NSA, of the planned protest.
AYA said the NSA, whose primary responsibility is to advice the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on best approach to secure lives, properties and welfare of Nigerians, has not been able to deliver creditably on his responsibility, hence, the need for his replacement as his tenure winds down.
The letter titled, “Notification of Peaceful Protest Over Rising Insecurity and the Urgent Need to Sack the National Security Adviser”, read in part: “We wish to notify you of our resolve to organise a peaceful protest at the Three Arms Zone, at the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum we issued to the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (rtd), to resign over his inability to come up with a workable strategy to tame the rising insecurity ravaging Northern Nigeria.
“We are aware that President Muhammadu Buhari responded to calls by Nigerians to replace the then-service chiefs. We have equally observed that the change of guard yielded little or no significant improvement in the state of our country’s security situation.
“It is, therefore, our considered view that the NSA, who is in a position to offer counsel to Mr President on a workable template to stampede out the terrorist elements might have run out of ideas.
“As lovers of Mr President, who desire to see him handover a more credible and prosperous Nigeria to his successor in a few months, we have resolved to organise a massive protest on our call on NSA to either resign or be sacked by Mr President. The protest is expected to start on August 17 by 8 am at the Presidential Villa.”
Confirming the letter, Danlami said the planned protest became necessary in the interest of the Nigerian masses who cannot afford to hire the expensive services of private security to protect them against marauding criminal elements across the country.
“Nowhere is safe in Nigeria as we are sleeping and waking up only by the grace of God. We expect patriotic Nigerians to come out and protest. Let’s think Nigeria, let’s think security.
“We have also sent invitations to other civil society organisations and other regional organisations who have accepted to be part of the protest”, he said.
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