PRESIDENTIAL CHARGE ON NATIONAL SECURITY
Editorial
The most complicated component of a nation/state is the security. Who, Why and How there are security breaches or leakages are investigated by the security division, with outcome communicated to the public or details shielded “in the interest of national security.”
Nigeria has had a fare share of national security challenges; the Western Regional House in the First Republic, the Tiv Riots also in the 1st Republic and the political violence that culminated into the coup and counter coups of 1965 and 1966 respectively, which viciously precipitated the Nigerian Civil War. There are also contemporary political violence ranging from the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east, the herdsmen invasion of north central states, the Niger Delta agitators and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) turned Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) among other pocket of groups. In addition, there is banditry, kidnapping, rape, cultism, gangsterism, women/child trafficking and substance abuse.
The question is why are we going from bad to worse in spite of the 27 coordinated government security institutions and other sub regional or state, local government and community efforts? Recently, the South West region of Nigeria commissioned a regional security architecture known as “Amotekun” to secure the area against communal clashes like banditry, kidnapping, cultism among other criminalities.
In a BBC Hausa Service Programme in 2011, a certain caller from Kano blamed the Boko Haram insurgency on the security network. He wondered why the North, with the highest number of Military Generals (serving and retired), claimed not to have intelligence gatherings on who are sponsors of this menace. What that means is that to some extent, the leaders at all fronts tend to have a fair knowledge of security breaches in their domain of abode or responsibility.
The charge by President Mohammadu Buhari to the Service Chiefs to end insecurity in the country may be a step in the right direction. Why now? So many Nigerians are killed gruesomely with the security promising to “investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.” But how many of these people have really been brought to book. There are cases where some persons in this country have boasted through media platforms that certain areas or people will know no peace. Have any of these persons been questioned by the security agents? No, because such persons are in “government or friends to the friends of people in government.” They purposely tell the investigator “you are wasting your time; do you know who am I? Mostly, the boys that are killed or arrested by counterinsurgency fighters, are mere tools in the crisis. The real guys are everywhere including Aso Villa, National Assembly, Army High Command etc, to paraphrase the view of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Theories and empirical studies on conflicts in countries like Congo, Liberia, Uganda revealed that certain people/groups benefit or profiteer from crises. In north east Nigeria, where I worked in the frontlines of the Boko Haram insurgency (permit me not to mention names ‘in the interest of national security’), it is obvious that certain people are sponsoring/benefiting from the situation. In north central Nigeria, there is no doubt; there are beneficiaries in the farmers/herders impasse on both sides of the table. The same goes for the avengers and the sovereign state agitators in south and eastern regions of Nigeria respectively.
To the government, it is not enough to give a presidential order. It is good if the political will to support that order is enhanced. Bottlenecks must be removed to enable the Service Chiefs and their subordinates function. The government must understand that certain individuals, bigger than the Service Chiefs are masterminds of these crimes against peaceful existence.
The Service Chiefs must consider the interest of the nation above their personal or primordial biases. For once, let one “big oga at the top” be compel to answer for his or her crime, to serve as deterrent, I am not in any way calling for “scapegoatism” which is what we see most times. If the roots are not uprooted, the branches will not die. Let us stop attacking symptoms, instead of treating the disease.
To individuals, we must understand that security is everyone’s business. We must do the needful collectively and individually to chart a new course in the security architecture of Nigeria. When you shield a crisis, be ready that sooner than later, it will escalate and affect you. Do not go to sleep and say the business of minding security should be handled by people who are paid to do the job. Remember that even when you have gallant officers willing to “serve their father land,” they are not spirits.
We had similar “Presidential Charges” in the past which came to futility. We hope this one will not be “as usual.” For once, let the Nigerian Government, Service Chiefs and Nigerians invoke the spirit of patriotism as contained in the National Anthem and the National Pledge.
