{"id":18406,"date":"2018-04-25T21:32:02","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T21:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=18406"},"modified":"2018-04-25T21:33:34","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T21:33:34","slug":"south-middle-belt-leaders-slam-buhari-over-benue-killings-illegal-purchase-of-12-us-aircrafts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=18406","title":{"rendered":"SOUTH\/MIDDLE BELT LEADERS SLAM BUHARI OVER BENUE KILLINGS, ILLEGAL PURCHASE OF 12 US AIRCRAFTS"},"content":{"rendered":"
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THE Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum made up of South South, South East, South and North Central leaders of thought came together in Abuja, on Wednesday, to observe and express shock that President Muhammadu Buhari has breached the constitution of the country by paying out the sum of $496 million without authorization from the National Assembly. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The money was paid to the United State Government for the purchase of 12 Tucano Aircrafts.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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But the leaders said they were shocked that the president could get involved in such flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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They have therefore called on the National Assembly do the needful by sanctioning him.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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They also called on the United States government to as a matter of urgency, return the money paid to the treasury of the government because the money paid was not authorized.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The leaders have also thrown their support behind calls by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma for Nigerians to defend themselves against marauding herdsmen since the military can no longer be trusted to defend them.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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They met at the Asokoro, Abuja residence of South-South Leader and former federal Commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark on Wednesday.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The also advised that as part of measures to address killings in the country, the Police Service Commission should as a matter of urgency, deploy all Divisional Police Officers )DPOs) to their places of origin for a more effective policing while the country awaits the much desired, State Police.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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They similarly warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against plans to create new polling units or voting points at this time as it was capable of bringing contention as well as overheat the polity.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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They maintained that the Commission should conduct the 2019 elections on the basis of the existing polling units so that exercise will be credible and the outcome acceptable.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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