Founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Chief Boniface Aniebonam, has called on Nigerians to stop apportioning blame over the nation’s insecurity challenges and instead unite to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in tackling crime.
Aniebonam, who is also the founder and pioneer President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), said security should not be viewed as the sole responsibility of the Federal Government, stressing that citizens must actively support security agencies to achieve lasting peace.
He made the call when executive members of the Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN) paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Apapa, Lagos. According to him, there is hope for Nigeria, noting that collective effort remains the key to overcoming the country’s security challenges.
The NNPP founder emphasised that issues such as kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of criminality require more than government intervention, describing security as a collective responsibility that demands the involvement of all citizens.
“This is not the time for blame games,” Aniebonam said. “Those who have never been in government often do not fully understand the enormity of the problems. When you step into office and open the cupboard, you see the scale of the challenges.”
He further identified underlying factors contributing to insecurity, including drug abuse and a troubling mindset that drives individuals to commit violent crimes for little gain, noting that such issues complicate law enforcement efforts.
Defending President Tinubu, Aniebonam observed that entrenched interests and inherited systemic failures often hinder policy implementation. He cited the power sector as an example of long-standing challenges that successive administrations have struggled to resolve.
“The President may have his faults, but he is contending with deep-seated issues. Nigerians need patience and unity to overcome these avoidable challenges,” he stated.
Aniebonam also commended President Tinubu for allowing due process to prevail in the terrorism case involving Nnamdi Kanu. He noted that with the legal process concluded, the President has the constitutional authority to exercise the prerogative of mercy in the interest of national peace.
He further advocated dialogue as a critical tool for conflict resolution, urging the government to engage relevant stakeholders to address the root causes of unrest.
Concluding, Aniebonam expressed confidence in the judiciary to resolve the ongoing legal disputes arising from the internal crisis within the NNPP.