APC Challenges FG On How $32 Bln Was Spent On Security In 5 Years

The All Progressives Congress (APC) through its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, on Friday challenged the Federal Government on how it allegedly spent $32 billion dollars on the nation’s security in the past five years, especially since arms are yet to be acquired.

“Which arm of the military took that money? What technology did we buy with it?” he asked, further claiming that the nation had lost about 220,000 square kilometers of territory to the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, the APC spokesman argued that “If we were in government today, the first thing we are going to do is restore confidence and morale of the Nigerian army, in a manner that they would be able to face the insurgency on equal terms” he said, highlighting the army was not equipped physically and psychologically.

“If it is not true, if our army has the necessary capacity in terms of equipment, welfare, they would not be running away from the insurgents”, he stated, recalling that it was the same Army that performed credibly well in other African nations.

It had been reported that the last time the Nigerian Military purchased arms was in 1979. Meanwhile, the insurgents have been seen displaying sophisticated equipment which the military says cannot be bought off the shelf.

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Lai Mohammed who stressed that 32 billion dollars had been spent on security in the last five years, challenged the government to explain how the money was used.

He said the President had to be aware that he “inherited both the good and the bad” hence, there was no excuse to not carry out his responsibility to ensure that lives and properties were secured.

“It’s not an excuse to say that when I became president, the army was in tatters and I’m saying that you have been there for 58 months now”.

Asked how the opposition party would establish a genuine link with the insurgents for negotiations, Mohammed stressed that the issue was government’s response to the insurgency.

He stated that the Federal Government’s response was “characterised with inaction, denial, lies and failures” recalling issues concerning delay in acting when the Chibok girls were abducted and the failed cease-fire agreement with the group.

Asked if the opposition knew the true representatives of the group, Mohammed said “it is stunning incompetence on the part of any government to say they do not know who to talk to”.

“When they set up the first team under the Minister of Special Duties, who were they talking to? When they announced that they had reached a truce, who were they talking to?

He argued that a competent government would know who to talk to

On allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party, that  the opposition APC was harboring sponsors of the terrorist group, the APC spokesman said the government was being ridiculous.

“What are they waiting for – for God’s sake – if they know who the sponsors of Boko Haram are? Whether it’s in PDP or APC, what are they waiting for to arrest the fellow?

According to him, “Nigerians are sick of hearing this”.