Nigeria Is Heading Towards Anarchy - David Mark

Senate President, David Mark, yesterday, feared the general unrest in the country and the violent activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect could throw the country into anarchy.

Mark in his New Year message to Senators, yesterday, after a close door session during which the nation’s security situation was discussed, specifically mentioned that the panic movement of Nigerians along ethnic and religious lines from one region to another on the ultimatum of Boko Haram could throw the country into anarchy.


He tasked security operatives to work hard to curtail the dangers posed by the sect, while calling for caution among Nigerians, warning that unnecessary utterances could destroy the nation’s fragile peace.

He said: “We have reconvened at a trying period in our nation’s history. We are confronted by security challenges in different parts of the country, which are testing our collective resolve to live together as a united indivisible nation.

“The Christmas Day bomb attack at Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla and other attacks in different parts of the country, especially in the North-East which has claimed many innocent lives, represents the most daring and costly attack by terrorists on fellow Nigerians.

“The attacks have instilled fear in the minds of ordinary Nigerians and threaten to impede the exercise of nation building. Once again, our tested cultural and religious values, which emphasise respect for life, are being eroded by these unscrupulous elements among us.

“The current security challenge has reinforced the need to aggressively pursue economic development and simultaneously implement the war on terrorism. In this regard, let me caution against reckless utterances by some Nigerians that endanger our national unity.

“Statements that encourage people to move from one region to another on the basis of faith and ethnicity is unpatriotic. It portends danger to our corporate existence and a clear invitation to anarchy.”

The Senate President was joined by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu and 70 other Senators to express concern on the forced movement of Southerners from the North and Northerners from the South. 

Ikweremadu, coming through Order 42 of Senate standing rules, drew the attention of the Senate to the general insecurity in the land. He said: “I and 70 other Senators are worried about the state of insecurity in our country. We are worried about the movement of people from one area to another, especially on the strength of threat from Boko Haram. “We are also worried about killings of people in places of worships. These things are like a bonfire, if not quenched, it can consume all of us.”

The Senate thus resolved to deliberate on the security situation and the Boko Haram ultimatum today.

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