Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan chapter, Mr Deji Omole, says the Federal Government has lost the capacity to enforce laws and protect Nigeria and Nigerians with uncontrolled killings in farming communities in North Central part of the country.

Omole who said this over the weekend, in a statement issued in Ibadan, while noting the increase in the spate of kidnapping, armed robbery and violence nationwide, stated that the body language of the President and the police has shown unwillingness to arrest, and prosecute killer herdsmen.

While maintaining that 80 per cent of cows in the country are owned by the ruling class who have over the years exploited and impoverished the masses, he asserted that the move to use public fund to establish private ranches for the business of those in government and their cronies should be rejected by Nigerians.

Omole who noted that the sponsored killings perpetrated by owners of the cows cannot be used to justify the plan by the Federal Government to use monies belonging to Nigerians to establish ranches for the private business of friends of government and governor-cattle owners across the country, said public funds must be deployed for the provision of public goods such as quality education, health, water, power and road for the majority which he said the Buhari government has failed to provide.

The ASUU boss said it was unthinkable that the Federal Government and their followers were more interested in 2019 elections, stating that security of lives and properties of Nigerians is more vital as most people now live in fear.

He insisted that the killing of over 200 Nigerians in Plateau State without security response has revealed that Nigerians are now living in a state of nature where life is short, nasty and brutish.

He said, “What Nigerians demand from this government is to provide a safe and secure environment for them and their families. Nowhere is safe in Nigeria. The federal government is showing by the attitudes and behaviours of the president to killings that those killing should be pampered while those being killed should tolerate the killings. We demand to see that rustlers and killer herdsmen are brought to face the wrath of the law. If killings continue, it may be difficult to have 2019 elections which is why lives of Nigerians are more important than any political ambition of any person.

"Buhari is breaching the social contract by failing to secure lives of Nigerians and ensuring the enforcement of laws. Are there no laws against trespass? What does the law say about murder? Does the law allow private citizens to carry arms without license? Does the law talk about pampering killers and consoling the victims? Injustices will deepen hatred and distrust among Nigerians against Nigerians and against government”