US Terror Alert: We Cannot Abandon Our Country — Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has again reacted to the recent security alert issued by the United States Embassy in Nigeria, saying that, the public exposure of alert has done nothing but terrorised Nigerians and set the Country on panic mood.

He however said that, Nigerians will not run out of their country despite the alert, but fight to ensure that their country becomes safe, stable and prosperous.

“When the Americans felt it was too hot for them, they asked their people to go. Can we ask Nigerians to go to anywhere? We cannot. So, we must all stay here, fight it and ensure that this country is safe, stable and prosperous”. He said

The Information Minister who stated this in Kaduna on Friday during the presentation of the Kaduna State quarterly security report, stated categorically that, Nigerian military, working in concert with the government have what it takes to handle the security situation in NIgeria.

Mohammed reiterated that, the Federal Government, like any other responsible government will not swallow hook, line and sinker any security alert from any other foreign country.

The Minister also condemned what he described as de-marketing of “their own country”, by a section of the Nigerian media, challenging the media to rather help rectify the trust deficit between the government and Nigerian citizens.

According to him, “what I have witnessed today is a validation of my position that the Nigerian military, working in concert with our government have what it takes to handle the security situation in NIgeria. And this brings me to the most topical issue today, which is the security alert sent by the United States of America as you the security situation in NIgeria, in Abuja in particular and in Nigeria as a whole.

“I want to say very categorically and without mincing words that, whatever is the intention of this security alert or this travel advisory, what it has done is that, it has terrorized our people and it has set the Nation in a panic mood.

“No doubt, the American government has a right to issue travel advisory to its citizens, but that should not go to the extent of scare mongaring.

“What the Federal Government has said is that, yes, this particular advisory was meant for the American citizens, but when it was leaked to the media, it caused a lot of panic to our people. And no responsible government will swallow hook line and sinker the security alert from any other foreign country, especially when we have confidence in our own military and other security agencies to gather intelligence and act upon it.

“Since this controversy, have been asking a question, as soon as we responded that, the federal government is in full control, and that we do quiet understand the situation, and that we are on top of it, some people have rushed to the media, some even having editorial criticizing the federal government. We make no apology that, we said that our military are on top of this situation, that our military are competent and even in some cases pay the supreme sacrifice to keep this secured.

“When the US issued the security alert, what did they expect us to do? To tell Nigerians to run away? No! We did what any responsible government will do, which is to reassure Nigerians, to let them know that the security agencies are on top of this matter and that they are doing everything everyday, including laying down their lives, to ensure that me and you sleep peacefully. And this is precisely what has been confirmed by the meeting here today.

“Another big issue I want to raise your excellency has to do with my brothers in the media. We cannot to de-market our own country. What makes the security intelligence of the Americans superior to our own? This trust deficit between the government and the governed, I think we in the media need to do a lot more to rectify.

“Because when I look at what our traditional rulers are doing, the synergy between them and the military and the government, we should begin to understand that, we are dealing with a complex issue. This issues didn’t start yesterday, but we have finally got a firm handle of them.

“So, what you need to help us do is to always look to bring the best out of our government, whether at the federal or local level, because nobody is going to build your country for you”.