Former External Affairs Minister Prof.
Bolaji Akinyemi yesterday urged the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to
take his personal security seriously in the
country’s interest.
Akinyemi was reacting to Buhari’s
statement that he has directed his
motorcade to obey traffic regulations.
In an open letter to the president-elect,
Akinyemi urged Gen. Buhari to
reconsider his decision, reminding him of
security threats bedevilling the country.
The former minister said he was
constrained to issue the statement after
the bomb explosion in Potiskum, Yobe
State and gun attacks on Damaturu-Kano
road at the weekend.
Akinyemi stated that there was nowhere
in the world where the motorcade of a
President or Prime minister, was
subjected to traffic regulation.
He said: “When you announced on
Wednesday, May 6, that you have
instructed your security motorcade to
obey traffic instructions, my immediate
reaction was to write you this letter. I
refrained because I did not want to
subject myself to the abuse on the social
media that passes for criticism…
“I changed my mind because of the
implication for national security of your
decision.
“You would recall the events of 1975/76
in this country. When General Murtala
Mohammed became Head of State in
1975 after the overthrow of General
Gowon, he abolished the motorcade for
himself, governors, and military
ministers in reaction against what was
perceived as the security excesses of the
Gowon regime.
“You were a military Governor in that
regime. You would recall what happened
next. General Mohammed was gunned
down while his car was waiting at a road
junction.
“Nigeria and the world have become a
more dangerous place than in 1976 when
General Mohammed was assassinated.
You would also recall the attempt on your
life just last year when your motorcade
was attacked in Kaduna.
“There is no country in the world where
the motorcade of a President, or Prime
Minister or Head of State is subject to
traffic regulations. I have just watched
the motorcade of the British Prime
Minister on his way to Buckingham
Palace. Traffic was stopped and his
outriders ensured that the motorcade
was not impeded.`
“General, it is not about your personal
safety. It is about Nigerian national
security.
“You would recall the controversy that
followed the ascension to the Presidency
of the then Vice-President Goodluck
Jonathan following the death of President
Musa Yar’Adua because some people felt
the ascension breached the principle of
rotation.
“In fact, this was what led the 2014
National Conference to recommend a
constitutional provision that in case of
vacancy in the President’s seat, a Vice-
President from the same zone should
serve out the term of the incumbent.
This Sir shows the extent of the
sensitivity about the seat of the
President.
“We cannot continue to take chances with
the peace and stability of Nigeria and
depend on God to bail us out. General,
Please reconsider your decision, not for
your sake, but for the sake of Nigeria.”
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