Terror alert: Political parties should suspend mass rallies, says Bolaji Akinyemi

Bolaji Akinyemi, former minister of external affairs, has asked political parties to stop mass rallies across the country over the United States (US) warning of possible terror attacks in Nigeria.

The US and the United Kingdom (UK) recently issued travel advisories warning their citizens living in Nigeria about the possibility of terror attacks in the federal capital territory (FCT).

On Wednesday, the US state department announced the evacuation of “non-emergency” employees and their family members in Nigeria.

Reacting to the warning, the federal government had said it will not be “stampeded” by the warnings, adding that Nigerian security forces are on top of the matter.

Some political parties have also rejected the suspension of their campaigns despite the alert.

Speaking on Thursday in a chat with ARISE TV, Akinyemi said political parties must “balance rights with responsibility” and help the security agencies focus solely on protecting Nigeria.

“These are inconvenient times for Nigeria because it is election time and campaigns have started. All these one-million-man marches and the like are soft targets for terrorists,” the former minister said.

“We should stop talking about rights when there is an existential danger to the republic. The national security adviser, after getting clearance from the president, should read the riot act to these politicians.

“I am not interested in your rights to assemble if you are presenting a soft target to [terrorists]. The Americans have warned you about what is about to happen and you are insisting it is your right to have all these one-million-man marches and so on. It is the question of balancing rights with responsibility.

“There are not enough policemen to provide your protection. Do not create situations that further stretch the ability of the security forces. Help the security agencies to be forced on the situation of the nation.”

Meanwhile, TheCable had reported that officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) and some American soldiers recently arrested a suspected terrorist at the Trademore estate in the FCT.