Terrorism Is Really Happening Here in Nigerian – Governor Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Elder Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday urged Nigerians to wake up to the sad reality of terrorists’ existence in the country. He advised the citizens to work together to confront the menace.

 

Oshiomhole spoke in an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja shortly after a closed-door meeting held with President Goodluck Jonathan in the Presidential Villa.

He said once terrorists did not discriminate on the account of age, region or religion of victims, Nigerians must speak with one voice and be united to deter terrorism.

 

The governor said, “My attitude is that Nigerians have to wake up to the reality that terrorists are here. Maybe few years back, many of us didn’t think that was possible.

 

“I thought we enjoy living so much that no one will wire himself to take his own life just because he wants to take the life of another innocent person.

 

“So for me, on the issue of security, all of us must work together. It is not a blame game. The reality is here.

 

“A terrorist doesn’t know your age, your region or your religion. The evidence is that everybody has become a victim.

 

“So on this issue, we must speak as a nation, united in a common voice to denounce terrorism and to work together with the Federal Government to fight terrorism decisively.”

 

Oshiomhole also urged the media not to be seen celebrating criminality.

 

“Any other country can give you 10 years visa, not permanent residence. We have no other country. Even in reporting, national interest must be considered,” he said.

 

On the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in his state, Oshiomhole said one of the beauties of democracy was that people could move from one party to the other.

 

He said while the party was losing members, some others were joining.

 

He said, “Democracy is not about grip, we have freedom of association. The beauty of democracy is that people can move front or back, right, left. Some people have joined us from Peoples Democratic Party in the past month, a member of the House left PDP to join us, don’t forget that some people also left to join us.

 

“As far as I know, there are a couple of issues and that shows that we are very democratic. We are open. We believe in inclusive participation.”