Johnson Suleman, general overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries International, has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign if he is unable to tackle those sponsoring terrorism and insecurity in the country.
Addressing congregants during a church programme, the cleric said Nigeria’s security agencies remain among the best in the world but are often undermined by powerful individuals who interfere with their operations.
Suleman praised the military, police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their efforts in combating terrorism and other forms of criminality.
“Nigerian military, they are one of the best,” he said.
“The soldiers in Nigeria are risking their lives. If not for those men, what would have happened?”
The cleric, however, lamented that security personnel are frequently demoralised when suspects are arrested only for influential individuals to intervene on their behalf.
“How do you continue when a military man catches a terrorist and gets a phone call?” he asked.
“You are demoralising them.”
Suleman also defended the DSS, saying the agency carries out numerous security operations that are not publicised.
“You hear people say, let them track these people,” he said.
“You know how many people they track every day and they pick them quietly?”
BAN OPEN GRAZING
The pastor said the government should ban open grazing nationwide and crack down on sponsors of terrorism.
“Ranch your cattle,” he said.
“Cattle business is a private business. It’s not government business.”
He also urged the government to identify and prosecute those funding violent groups.
“Go after the sponsors of terrorism,” he said.
Suleman further called on political leaders to suspend partisan activities and focus on addressing the country’s security challenges.
“This is not the time for politics,” he said.
“Leave every political meeting now and go after these people.”
The cleric said the president should step aside if he believes the security crisis is beyond his capacity to resolve.
“Resign. Let somebody else do it,” he said.
“If you say that insecurity has overwhelmed you and you can’t fix it, leave. Let somebody else come.”
