The recent discovery by a Civil Society group that the Interior Minister in Jonathan’s cabinet, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro has engaged himself in another arms smuggling deal is generating serious tension amongst Nigerians and the international community on the sincerity of President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the present security challenge occasioned by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.
The revelation which took the prying eyes of the National Anti-Terrorism and Peace Network to unravel through the office of the National Security Adviser to uncover is connected with a large cache of arms and ammunitions imported into the country by the Federal Government to empower the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS) tactically in protecting Nigerians from subsequent attacks by Boko Haram and other elements in the country.
This recent investigation might not be far from the earlier acceptance by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the wake of public outcry against incessant attacks on ordinary citizens and properties worth millions of naira that members of the sect have infiltrated his administration and some even live in the State House with him. President Jonathan had in a public event addressed Nigerians and the rest of the world early this year that members of the religious sect now exist in his cabinet which makes several attempts to halt their evil activities against the state very difficult to combat.
According to a letter written to the United States Government and other international agencies by the Coalition, and made available to elombah.co, the National Security Adviser had advised Mr. President to demand the immediate resignation of Comrade Patrick Abba Moro who came on board with a huge moral burden bordering on his ongoing trial before an Abuja Magistrate Court on gun running. Our sources informed us that Comrade Patrick Abba Moro while serving as Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area between 1999 and 2007 was caught at Abuja with a short service pistol without any permission or presidential directive to bear arms and was subsequently arraigned before a court of law.
A copy of the internal security report with the National Security Adviser with subject titled, “Error in Ministerial Clearance by D. S. S,” shows that the Department of State Security Service has knowingly or unknowingly cleared Comrade Patrick Abba Moro prior to his nomination as Minister designate by Mr. President.
On assumption of office in 2011, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed some Nigerians to serve as Ministers amongst whom was one Comrade Patrick Abba Moro. At this point the Nigerian Civil Society drew the attention of the Senate to a pending case of illegal possession of firearms otherwise referred to as gun running against the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, a nominee of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the position of Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Senate confirmed the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro without recourse to the moral burden and his ongoing trial at an Abuja Magistrate Court on an offence against the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The group said they are greatly alarmed that “despite the public criticism that accompanied Mr. President’s deployment of this controversial character to the Ministry of Interior especially at a time of high scale coordinated terrorist attacks against the people of Nigeria and even foreigners who visit the country for other relationships, the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro still remains in office to perpetuate nefarious activities like arms dealing, recruitment of miscreants into strategic internal security organizations and continuous misdirection to the entire administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a whole.”
“We are imploring the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to as a matter of urgent national concern cause full investigation of the activities of the Interior Minister viz:
“The recent disappearance of a large cache of fire arms imported into Nigeria for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) alleged to have been confiscated by the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro as Minister of Interior. Our sources within informed us that Moro’s response to this grievous criminal offence was that he has the powers as Minister to personally retain some arms on behalf of the Federal Government but this he has done in order to arm another set of youths in north central Nigeria in preparations for the 2015 general elections. This is not only a security threat to the nation but the International Community at large considering the volatile nature of north central Nigeria and its poverty margin which has in turn made the youths very vulnerable to deception and selfish antics of disgruntled politicians in the country.
“The government of the United States and the United Nations should also know the rationale behind the sack of General Andrew Azzazi and Dr. Bello Haliru as National Security Adviser and Minister of Defense respectively leaving behind Comrade Patrick Abba Moro who is in charge of Prisons, Immigrations and Civil Defense Corps to propagate his clueless and directionless policies while innocent citizens are being cut down in their prime on daily basis. This is time for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to act fast and not to stamp the impression that he has conceded certain parts of his administration to political elements in settlement for his last victory.
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan we are aware has been advised by his National Security Adviser after a detailed checks at the Chief Magistrate Court Registrar’s office and office of the Attorney General of the Federation to quietly relieve Comrade Patrick Abba Moro of his position to strengthen government’s strategies on the war against terrorism, corruption and in furtherance of the rule of law principle. Attached is a copy of an internal communication between the National Security Adviser and the Intelligent Operations on 24th day of April, 2012 showing details of their investigation on the above subject matter for your kind perusal.
“The common people of Nigeria are still in shock that despite these chilling revelations from Mr. President’s inner security agent the Federal Government has continued to look the other way round while lives and properties are being lost on a daily basis. This is the time for Mr. President to act in order to convince Nigerians that the present crisis is not being sponsored by the government against the citizenry.”
