The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) on Monday condemned the killing of Rice farmers by Boko Haram terrorists at their farms in Koshobe, Borno state, saying the insecurity problem in Nigeria is beyond sacking Service Chiefs.
SPN in a statement jointly signed by its acting National Chairperson, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye and the National Secretary, Comrade Chinedu Bosah attributed the killings President Muhammadu Buhari led APC failure to tackle insecurity challenges in Nigeria.
Commiserating with the families of the farmers and the injured or missing in the deadly attack the party stated that the killing of the rice farmers was “another shocking reminder that aside from its failures in fighting corruption and ending poverty, the President Muhammadu Buhari government has equally failed in the fight against insurgency and insecurity”
“Many have called for the sack or replacement of the Service Chiefs as a solution. While we support the call, for us in the SPN, even if this is done, no serious progress would still be recorded in the fight against insurgency. This is because the problem goes beyond the Service Chiefs”, it said
SPN added, “the government itself is unable to aggressively and decisively tackle mass poverty, lack of basic infrastructure, lack of access to western formal education and opportunities– all conditions which though are prevalent in all parts of the country are however more widespread and endemic in the North East.”
According to the party, the killings of the Borno Rice farmers clearly ” shows that almost all parts of Nigeria, not just the North East, is a killing field today.” despite that “a few years ago, the government had declared Boko Haram “technically defeated”.
” This horrific massacre just like numerous others has put a lie to this declaration. Even the Governor of Borno State who ought to be the most secured citizen in the State has had his convoy brutally attacked at least on two occasions by the terrorist group with many of his men in the entourage killed or maimed”.
SPN emphasized that “in this situation where the government has completely lost the capacity to protect lives, the people themselves, especially working people, farmers and youth, have to take their destinies in their hands” by “setting up of independent, democratic and non-sectarian communal defence committees to protect villages, farms and communities from attacks by Boko Haram, bandits and extortion and repression by soldiers.”
The party pointed out that “without ending social and economic inequality as well as state repression, insurgency and insecurity cannot be defeated”, saying, “unfortunately, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other bourgeois political parties are not committed to ending social inequality and poverty”
