By Nze Nwabueze Akabogu
SIR: The launch of the regional security outfit, “Operation Amotekun” has expectedly elicited a barrage of commentaries and mixed reactions from many Nigerians.
First was the federal government which strongly condemned the outfit as illegal and unconstitutional. To the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, the six Southwest governors lacked the constitutional powers to launch a regional security outfit by whatever name called as such an action, in his view, is tantamount to gross violation of the nation’s constitution which explicitly vest the formation and operation of the security apparatus exclusively in the federal government.
A common saying that “Nero was fiddling while Rome was burning” readily comes to mind and is very apt in the context of the current flexing of muscles between the federal government and the Southwest leaders on the rather alarming security challenges facing the country.
Our adage also says: “One whose house is on fire does not go about pursuing rats”. Common sense and rational thinking demand that all possible measures be adopted to reduce the current intolerable level of insecurity in the country and as such, any patriotic initiative by state authorities to confront head on, this hydra-headed or ubiquitous monster called insecurity bordering on Boko Haram insurgency, kidnappings, armed banditry, herdsmen insurgency etc. should be welcomed and applauded by all and sundry.
The extremely grave situation calls for synergy and collaborative efforts among all the tiers of government and certainly, this is not the time for blame game or unnecessary controversy as the country is currently facing one of the most difficult times in her history.
It is against the foregoing therefore, that the bold initiative taken by the leaders of the Southwest region should be commended. Other parts of the country should emulate their example and urgently set up their own internal security apparatus to stem the tide of criminal activities.
It is instructive to observe that the governors, with the exception of Oyo State where the historic event took place, belong to the ruling APC.
The persistent calls for the decentralization of the nation’s security apparatus has for long been on the front burner of national discourse.
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The Nigeria Police as presently constituted is hopelessly inadequate and incapable of dealing with the prevailing security challenges confronting the nation and as such any action initiated towards complementing the efforts of the national police by any group deserves to be commended rather than condemned.
It is pertinent to stress also that the primary responsibility of any government the world over is the security of lives and property of citizens. It would amount to gross irresponsibility for any government to abdicate this sacred duty or worse still, oppose measures aimed at providing adequate security for her own citizens.
The raging controversy over the constitutionality or otherwise is therefore, totally uncalled for. With an open mind, the issues could easily be sorted out through dialogue. The flexing of muscles by political gladiators is unhelpful.
The issue of state or regional police should be handled by the National Assembly as a matter of urgent public importance and national priority.
The National Assembly should come up with a legislation to empower the present six geo-political zones in the country rather than the individual states to set up their various zonal police organizations which would complement the functions of the federal police as obtainable in developed democracies. The bottom line is to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.
Nigeria that often prides herself as the most populous nation in Africa must set the pace for other nations and equally live up to her popular appellation as truly “the giant of Africa” not only in words but in deeds.
- Nze Nwabueze Akabogu (JP), Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.
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