Insecurity: A minus to good governance in Nigeria – Part 2 – Guardian

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Insecurity. Photo: INSTITUTEFORAGREATEREUROPE
Also, the traditional rulers should be upright in the discharge of their functions as the ‘custodians of cultural values and true royal fathers to the people within their respective domains’. They should always operate an open door rulership whereby the locals/villagers/natives/settlers can feel free to give information in confidence without fear of repercussion(s). Otherwise, how is it possible (as an example) for ‘rustlers’ to successfully attack the herders (injuring and killing some in the process) ‘steal’ their cattle and disappearing into thin air without the villagers/natives having an inkling of the crime? So, it is either, they are partners in crime; or, they opted to keep silent because of the fear of the ‘consequences of talking’. This explains how the herders graduated from ‘using sticks’ to ‘carrying guns’. However, that should not be a justification for using the weapons to committing crimes; and, that is why whoever is found guilty must be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Furthermore, the ‘real herders’ should also make it a point of responsibility to report and expose the criminal elements within their settlements carrying out kidnapping, murder, raping, wanton destruction of lives and properties to their leaders, rulers/elders of their host communities, and or the security agencies to forestall ‘wrong accusation(s)’ which would make them become ‘victims of unfortunate circumstances’ as we have it today. In the same vein, the natives should also endeavour to say something when they see something rather than keeping quiet and allowing mutual suspicion degenerate to situations where ‘innocent people are made to pay for the crimes of others’.
Instructively, members of the National Assembly and State Assemblies should collapse all their ‘so called juicy committees’ into the National and States Security Committees (respectively) to thoroughly and objectively deliberate on issues of insecurity bedeviling us. This should be aimed at unearthing/resolving the root-causes such as the herders/farmers conflicts; high rate of employment; moral decadence amongst our youths which has greatly worsened criminalities and other societal ills; rising cases of cult clashes; issues of marginalization that has increased regional upheavals and quests for secession; the alleged Fulanization/Islamization agenda; police brutality; and, social imbalances that have, to a very large extent, hindered the discharging of dividends of democracy to the people. This Security Committees should constantly liaise and follow up with the Service Chiefs on evolving security challenges with a view to proffering workable solutions together.
In the same vein, the Governors Forum should also see the security challenges of one state as that of all other states; so, they should always come together regardless of their political and ethnic/regional affiliations to fight the menace as one indivisible family. There is no state that does not have indigenes in every other parts of the federation; as such, the governors should see and treat people from other states as their own. Therefore, you must find a way of joining hands together to helping one another. The situation of leaving state governors to ‘carry their individual crosses’ on security issues is very wrong and should be discouraged. As it is presently, the governors are just the ‘Chief Security Officers’ of their states ‘on paper’; they do not have absolute control over any of the major security agencies within their states.
Flowing from the above, the Inspector General of Police, the Comptroller Generals of Immigration, Customs, Nigerian Correctional Services; the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; the Director General of the DSS and other related agencies should always endeavour to promptly send crucial and urgent signals/directives to their respective States Commissioners/Comptrollers/Commandants/Directors on the appropriate actions to take during complex and emergency situations. The chairman of the Governors’ Forum should constantly liaise/follow up with the presidency/service chiefs/heads of other security agencies on serious security challenges affecting any of the states.
The government at the centre should also operate an open door system to encourage all well-meaning and patriotic citizens to contribute their quotas towards ensuring that the issue of insecurity is put to permanent rest. The government belongs to all Nigerians and should not be seen as that of a particular political party and a section of the country or selected few. Our leaders should welcome contributions from every reasonable quarters, and treat those on security matters very seriously and objectively.
Furthermore, all aggrieved and disgruntled freedom fighters should tread softly and be guided by the law in the execution of their fight against insecurity. They should avoid infringing on the rights of innocent and law abiding citizens in order not to end up being caught in the web of lawlessness. This is also necessary to prevent reprisal attacks that could degenerate to unnecessary civil disturbances/war. “A word is enough for the wise.”
Journalists and social media influencers should desist from sensational reporting which are capable of compounding the already tensed atmosphere. This is not the time to want to be ‘hypocritically active’ for the purpose of ‘personal aggrandizement’. You must be highly professional and cautious in your reporting and circulations to avoid ‘pouring petrol on fire.’
To all those that are directly or indirectly fanning the embers of destabilization in our nation; you are enjoined to have a rethink and discontinue forthwith; because, the judgment day is very near. If you are no longer comfortable and happy with the government; you need to wait for the right time to do the needful with your ‘votes.’ That is the beauty of democracy as “the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
Concluded
Oise-Oghaede wrote this updated piece from Surulere, Lagos State. He can be reached via raymondoise@yahoo.com.

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