NBA, Ribadu blames FG, security agencies. Okah to be arraigned in South Africa today.

Presidential aspirants, Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed Gusau, and Nuhu Ribadu at the weekend proffered solutions to security lapses that led to the bombing of Abuja, 80 metres from the Eagle Square, in the middle of the independence celebration.

Ribadu, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, blamed the government and the security agencies for the loophole exploited by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to plant the explosives.

That view was echoed by the Nigerian Bar Association.

However, Henry Okah, now under arrest under terror laws in South Africa, has denied having anything to do with the bombings in Abuja.

Ulrich Roux, lawyer for the former leader of the MEND, confirmed he was arrested last Saturday.

The MEND has claimed responsibility for the atrocity.

Roux said Okah “claims that he knows nothing of any of these bombings."

Okah was arrested under South African counterterrorism legislation, but has not been charged. 

He is expected to be brought to court for a preliminary hearing today.

Police Spokeswoman Tumi Shai declined comment on Sunday. 

Back home, Atiku said education remains the panacea for youth restiveness and violence in the country, a position he canvassed at the launch of an education endowment fund in Jos by the  Izala Movement, an Islamic group.

Nigeria needs to invest heavily in education to free the citizens  from poverty, violence, and provide youths with proper orientation to channel their energies for constructive enterprises.

He recounted how  education transformed his life from his rustic village of Jada to become a  former Vice President now making a bid back to the Villa as President.

Atiku donate N20 million to the fund and pledged to commit himself to the education of the young.

“As a result of what education has done  to uplift me, I’ve decided to use my resources to provide access to learning to as many citizens as I possibly can,”  he said.

Atiku had about three weeks ago visited Jos for the launch of an education fund by a Christian missionary group.

From Gusau, former National Security Adviser (NSA), came assurances that, if elected, Nigeria will see real progress, where the citizens will be safe and have enough reason to want to live in and love the country.

The arrowhead of his campaign, Ben Obi, told reporters in Lagos that he has what it takes to make the country safe, which he demonstrated in his many years of handling national security. 

Obi decried the bomb blasts in Abuja, describing them as a sad commentary on Nigeria’s image.

“The fact that all the dignitaries were in Abuja to celebrate with us and there were these explosions call for concern,” he said.

According to him, Gusau has mapped out a clear strategy to tackle security and other problems of the country, stressing that the country needs to get things right with its politics, especially in electing the President, which also requires prayers.

His words: “Any mistake we make in what we are doing now may land us in serious trouble. Gusau is a courageous and disciplined leader. He knows the problems and has the solutions to them. He is the only one in government longer than any other person running for presidency now. 

“Yet, you cannot see any Nigerian pointing accusing fingers at him. We have seen the problems of other leaders, but nobody can say this is where we find him wanting.”

NBA President Joseph Daudu said the attack carried out by the MEND despite the warning given more than one hour before the strike exposes the weakness of the security agencies. 

He condemned the explosions, saying the NBA views as tragic and lamentable the fact that they occurred at a time when the world’s attention was beamed on Nigeria, in the very height of funfair, pomp, and glitz heralding the golden jubilee of freedom from colonial rule.

“Report on casualty is varied, ranging between eight and 38, but the fact that the lives of innocent Nigerians were lost and scores injured registers the incidence as a most dastardly and despicable act. 

“This unfortunate incident is yet another sad event in the socio-political chronicles of this country which portends greater challenges in the times ahead,” Dauda warned.

Ribadu also condemned the bombings and insisted that the government and security agencies should take the blame. 

He said at the National Hospital in Abuja after his visit to victims that security is a challenge and the law enforcement must take the responsibility.

“Though I perfectly see the reason why some people may disagree and want to show their own displeasure with the way things are, but taking innocent lives is not the answer.

“People have lost their lives, and they are also human beings, they have families. This is injustice, injustice to them, to their own families, and to Nigerians.

“I pray that we never see such a thing again in our country. The time has come for all of us to really get serious about security issues and change this country in a way that we don’t have to be confronted daily with this type of violence,” Ribadu added.

The government must protect its people, he stressed, because it cannot do that, then there is no reason for its existence.