Genesis of Nigeria’s security problems
By Ayodele Fagbohun
|
The high incidence of wanton killing of innocent persons accompanied with loss of valuable property and wealth in recent times is terrific, horrendous and very unprecedented in the anal of the nation’s history.
This breach in the nation’s security networks gives rise to terror which has assumed global phenomenon.
Every tier of government in Nigeria must of necessity address the security laxity that on daily basis renders lives and property not worth a dime and the nation hanging precariously on the balance waiting to tumble down the cliff sooner than later. Rather than indulge in unfounded recriminations, blame games and casting aspersion out of mutual suspicious and plain envy that such and such leaders welding only transient political power are respnsible for the nation’s woes.
For the security of the nation was very strong. reliable and sure footed at the attainment of political independence from the British colonial masters on October 1, 1960.
What then has gone wrong with our security architecture since we have been saddled with the management of our own affairs? Our security problems are seemingly intractable and turned to the worse crying for urgent and clinical solution.
The otherwise refund security network services which was once a pride of the nation showed signs of decadence and weakness in the wake of the 30 months’ old internecine fratricidal civil war.
Lack of strong political will and progressive ideological orientation of the ruling elite to positively and boldly cultivate the diverse interests within the country for the public good, has further exacerbated the volatile state of the nation with corrosive effect on the nation’s security.
With the cessation of hostilities in January 1970, the post war Gowon military regime was weak and not decisive enough to take the bull by the horns in effectively tackling attendant security menace arising from the unfortunate civil war.
The extreme planlessness of the economy; the abject low performance and debauchery with which the affairs of government was invariably being conducted left much to be desired and a source of embarrassment and disenchantment to some prominent Nigerian politicians whose brilliant feats in the field of diplomatic warfare saw the country through the crisis.
It was on record that shortly after the end of the civil war, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave a blue print to the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon on demobilisation in the Armed Forces and the engagement of the ex-service men in farm settlements as a panacea for the intractable unemployment and imminent social disequilibrium in a depressed economy that emerged from the crucible of war.
To start with, it was argued that the nation could not afford to keep a large army in peace time.
Citing the example of Israel, a comparatively small but fast developing agro-industrial giant nation endowed with requisite sophistication of modern army, the sage argued that Nigeria inspite of her large army and population could not imagine herself ranking with Israel. The proposal was a far sighted and gargantuan socio-economic master piece to fully re integrate the ex-service men into the civil society after meritorious active service on the battle field.
If adopted, the programme would have radically altered the restive and perpetually guerilla way of life in the country, curb waves of violent crimes and the general insecurity to which we have helplessly plunged ourselves. Government threw the proposal to the winds to the utter peril of the future well being and security of the people.
The dire effect is now being felt all over the place with virile able bodied men in unlawful possession of arms and ammunition prowling the streets and threatening the peace and security of the country. If the country has had the rare luck of being led by right calibre of selfless and purposeful political leaders, not dazzled with petrol naira of post-war politics the country would have waged a successful war to combat the security problem which is now a pandemic next to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) ravanging the planless and economically depressed so called contemptuously as third world countries.
The awful social malaise facing the nation in the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war and the paralysis of the succeeding governments both civil and military to proffer workable solutions to unemployment of the youths is a contributing and potent factor to the incidence of insecurity that seems to reduce the affairs of governance to “a sound and fury”.
It must be reiterated that the abysmal failure of government to embark on insurance and old age scheme for the ex-servicemen and to vigorously reactivate the economy to assuage the hardship arising from the anguish of war and the concomitant crippling post war effects that naturally made and is still exacting heavy tools on the society quite embittered some desperadoes to take up arms against the society.
It is nauseating and unfortunate that some youths, regardless of their educational attainment mix indiscriminately with undesirable elements and refuse to come to terms with the reality of the moment, having been fully indoctrinated and brainwashed with the general concept that Nigerians are “suffering in the mist of plenty”.
In all honesty, if the concept is not far from the truth, how long can we continue to gamble with the destiny of our people and deceive ourselves as a nation bereft of socio-economic and political principles that in the ultimate will guarantee the security and peace of the nation instead of resorting to uncertainties and impulsive beliefs in the providence at every cross road of national travails that invariably land us into jeopardy.
Before darkness falls and the country collapses under the heavy weight of myopic and selfish desires of ruling caste who seems impregnable and untouchable by the paraphernalia of government leaving the poor masses to bear the full brunt of being vulnerable to grave danger of insecurity. Our government at all levels must be credible enough to promptly address the porous state of the nation’s security with a view to tightening the loose ends.
Both the state and local government must complement the efforts of the Federal Government in proactive synergy to improve and galvanize the security networks of the country and urgently rescue our people from the brutal men of underworld.
State and local governments must ensure that the various police commands under their jurisdiction are fully prepared for better exposure and trained to face tough challenges posed by insecurity.
As a corollary, the “Obis, Emirs, Obas and the Baales” who are the custodians of traditions and culture in their respective domains, have a big role to assert their relevance on the people and to keep the local environment sane and secure. For it is sad and sacrilegious indeed as the palace, the church and mosque are no respecter of the men of underworld, if the dastardly heinous, daring and unstoppable acts happening all over the place are anything to go by.
It is unfortunate and disheartening that the revered and inviolable place of worship and the palace, the abode of our monarchs are now subjected to incessant raids of marauders who main, kill and vandalize.
The bravado and commando like operation with which the men of terror often strike leaving on its trail heavy casualties is quite puzzling. This ought to have compelled our government to take proactive measures and tackle the menace headlong to avert imminent occurrences.
However, the way and manner government responds and vacillate on the seemingly national aggression, failure to nip the crisis in the bud shows that government has capitulated. Hence these vulgar men are more determined and unafraid to strike with more ruthless venom and on large scale as their arsenal can outwit the government in any encounter of our law enforcement agencies especially the police that the hoodlums will be apprehended after the violent acts, is medicine after death. Sure, property can be restored even in multiple fold but no one can create life after being avoidably lost.
Government must ensure that every village and hamlet within each local government area of the federation be put under rigorous and constant surveillance and suspicious movement of people should promptly be reported to the traditional ruler-in- council for appropriate sanctions and onward transfer to the law enforcement agency.
When every Nigerian, right from Mr President down to the least person at the ward /village level becomes security conscious, the battle for adequate and good security networks across the nation is half won. This, no doubt is an uphill task.
The only way out is for President Mohammadu Buhari to urgently dispatch a bill on “Community policing” for enactment in the National Assembly, to be operational as law fully implemented by the state governors across the federal. A stitch in time saves nine!
Genesis of Nigeria’s security problems
By Ayodele Fagbohun
The high incidence of wanton killing of innocent persons accompanied with loss of valuable property and wealth in recent times is terrific, horrendous and very unprecedented in the anal of the nation’s history.
This breach in the nation’s security networks gives rise to terror which has assumed global phenomenon.
Every tier of government in Nigeria must of necessity address the security laxity that on daily basis renders lives and property not worth a dime and the nation hanging precariously on the balance waiting to tumble down the cliff sooner than later. Rather than indulge in unfounded recriminations, blame games and casting aspersion out of mutual suspicious and plain envy that such and such leaders welding only transient political power are respnsible for the nation’s woes.
For the security of the nation was very strong. reliable and sure footed at the attainment of political independence from the British colonial masters on October 1, 1960.
What then has gone wrong with our security architecture since we have been saddled with the management of our own affairs? Our security problems are seemingly intractable and turned to the worse crying for urgent and clinical solution.
The otherwise refund security network services which was once a pride of the nation showed signs of decadence and weakness in the wake of the 30 months’ old internecine fratricidal civil war.
Lack of strong political will and progressive ideological orientation of the ruling elite to positively and boldly cultivate the diverse interests within the country for the public good, has further exacerbated the volatile state of the nation with corrosive effect on the nation’s security.
With the cessation of hostilities in January 1970, the post war Gowon military regime was weak and not decisive enough to take the bull by the horns in effectively tackling attendant security menace arising from the unfortunate civil war.
The extreme planlessness of the economy; the abject low performance and debauchery with which the affairs of government was invariably being conducted left much to be desired and a source of embarrassment and disenchantment to some prominent Nigerian politicians whose brilliant feats in the field of diplomatic warfare saw the country through the crisis.
It was on record that shortly after the end of the civil war, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave a blue print to the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon on demobilisation in the Armed Forces and the engagement of the ex-service men in farm settlements as a panacea for the intractable unemployment and imminent social disequilibrium in a depressed economy that emerged from the crucible of war.
To start with, it was argued that the nation could not afford to keep a large army in peace time.
Citing the example of Israel, a comparatively small but fast developing agro-industrial giant nation endowed with requisite sophistication of modern army, the sage argued that Nigeria inspite of her large army and population could not imagine herself ranking with Israel. The proposal was a far sighted and gargantuan socio-economic master piece to fully re integrate the ex-service men into the civil society after meritorious active service on the battle field.
If adopted, the programme would have radically altered the restive and perpetually guerilla way of life in the country, curb waves of violent crimes and the general insecurity to which we have helplessly plunged ourselves. Government threw the proposal to the winds to the utter peril of the future well being and security of the people.
The dire effect is now being felt all over the place with virile able bodied men in unlawful possession of arms and ammunition prowling the streets and threatening the peace and security of the country. If the country has had the rare luck of being led by right calibre of selfless and purposeful political leaders, not dazzled with petrol naira of post-war politics the country would have waged a successful war to combat the security problem which is now a pandemic next to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) ravanging the planless and economically depressed so called contemptuously as third world countries.
The awful social malaise facing the nation in the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war and the paralysis of the succeeding governments both civil and military to proffer workable solutions to unemployment of the youths is a contributing and potent factor to the incidence of insecurity that seems to reduce the affairs of governance to “a sound and fury”.
It must be reiterated that the abysmal failure of government to embark on insurance and old age scheme for the ex-servicemen and to vigorously reactivate the economy to assuage the hardship arising from the anguish of war and the concomitant crippling post war effects that naturally made and is still exacting heavy tools on the society quite embittered some desperadoes to take up arms against the society.
It is nauseating and unfortunate that some youths, regardless of their educational attainment mix indiscriminately with undesirable elements and refuse to come to terms with the reality of the moment, having been fully indoctrinated and brainwashed with the general concept that Nigerians are “suffering in the mist of plenty”.
In all honesty, if the concept is not far from the truth, how long can we continue to gamble with the destiny of our people and deceive ourselves as a nation bereft of socio-economic and political principles that in the ultimate will guarantee the security and peace of the nation instead of resorting to uncertainties and impulsive beliefs in the providence at every cross road of national travails that invariably land us into jeopardy.
Before darkness falls and the country collapses under the heavy weight of myopic and selfish desires of ruling caste who seems impregnable and untouchable by the paraphernalia of government leaving the poor masses to bear the full brunt of being vulnerable to grave danger of insecurity. Our government at all levels must be credible enough to promptly address the porous state of the nation’s security with a view to tightening the loose ends.
Both the state and local government must complement the efforts of the Federal Government in proactive synergy to improve and galvanize the security networks of the country and urgently rescue our people from the brutal men of underworld.
State and local governments must ensure that the various police commands under their jurisdiction are fully prepared for better exposure and trained to face tough challenges posed by insecurity.
As a corollary, the “Obis, Emirs, Obas and the Baales” who are the custodians of traditions and culture in their respective domains, have a big role to assert their relevance on the people and to keep the local environment sane and secure. For it is sad and sacrilegious indeed as the palace, the church and mosque are no respecter of the men of underworld, if the dastardly heinous, daring and unstoppable acts happening all over the place are anything to go by.
It is unfortunate and disheartening that the revered and inviolable place of worship and the palace, the abode of our monarchs are now subjected to incessant raids of marauders who main, kill and vandalize.
The bravado and commando like operation with which the men of terror often strike leaving on its trail heavy casualties is quite puzzling. This ought to have compelled our government to take proactive measures and tackle the menace headlong to avert imminent occurrences.
However, the way and manner government responds and vacillate on the seemingly national aggression, failure to nip the crisis in the bud shows that government has capitulated. Hence these vulgar men are more determined and unafraid to strike with more ruthless venom and on large scale as their arsenal can outwit the government in any encounter of our law enforcement agencies especially the police that the hoodlums will be apprehended after the violent acts, is medicine after death. Sure, property can be restored even in multiple fold but no one can create life after being avoidably lost.
Government must ensure that every village and hamlet within each local government area of the federation be put under rigorous and constant surveillance and suspicious movement of people should promptly be reported to the traditional ruler-in- council for appropriate sanctions and onward transfer to the law enforcement agency.
When every Nigerian, right from Mr President down to the least person at the ward /village level becomes security conscious, the battle for adequate and good security networks across the nation is half won. This, no doubt is an uphill task.
The only way out is for President Mohammadu Buhari to urgently dispatch a bill on “Community policing” for enactment in the National Assembly, to be operational as law fully implemented by the state governors across the federal. A stitch in time saves nine!
