Politics

Political Servicemen And Failure Of Security Architecture

Published

7 years ago

December 3, 2018

When the Service Chiefs took the front seats at the campaign flag off of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, it became obvious that this nation has hit her lowest point. High profile servicemen who swore to protect the rest of the country through unbiased application of security techniques have turned against the country, preferring to become politicians overnight.
Days after they committed themselves to campaigning for the worst performing President, the unthinkable happened. Rampaging terrorists invaded military facilities in Metele. The figures of soldiers killed have been subject of endless debates.
Even as I write, the British media reported last Thursday that Boko Haram killed more soldiers. The soldiers on ground in the theatre of war claim they have no equipment and morale is low.
Before our very eyes, the failed APC Federal Government has turned the Nigerian Army into a weapon to advance the ugly political journey of a rejected political party. It has lost the theatres of war and is creating zones of insecurity on behalf of the APC. We watched with sadness soldiers carrying placards in Maiduguri because terrorists were killing them and they lacked equipment for defence.
Under the present leadership of the Nigerian Army, things have continued to degenerate. The absurd is the norm. But the Chief of Army Staff continues to keep his job because of his political relevance to the APC Federal Government.
On Thursday, 29th November, 2019, the nation woke up to another criminal act of the Nigerian Army. This time they invaded the NYSC Orientation camp where recruited personnel of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency were being trained.
They unleashed mayhem on the unarmed personnel, shot sporadically and injured several others. They abducted the trainers and destroyed facilities at the camp.
The training camp was turned into a scene of a horror movie by personnel of the Nigerian Army. Quite sadly, the Nigerian Army has joined the Nigerian Police in the unbridled acts of shame.
For hours, the show of shame of the Nigerian Army at the training ground of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency trended on social media. The cries of the 3000 recruits were heartrending.
The Nigerian Army did the expected. They issued a senseless and pedestrian press statement. A statement that exposed the low quality of personnel who mismanage the nation’s security architecture, simply because they are dancing to the discordant tunes of the APC.
One Aminu Ilyasu, who parades himself as a quota colonel issued a statement claiming that the Nigerian Army discovered an illegal military training camp at Nonwa. The quota colonel made several outlandish claims to justify the act of illegality.
He claimed on behalf of his political godfathers that similar illegal militia camps exist in Benue and Taraba States. It is most unfortunate that even in lying, these political soldiers cannot be logical and intelligent.
The quota colonel and his masters are clever by half. The Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency is a creation of the law and due process.
It was in a bid to improve the security of communities that Rivers State Governor, Nysom Ezenwo Wike gave his assent to the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No.8 of 2018 passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
On the same day, the Governor also gave his assent to the Rivers State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) (Amendment) Law No.6 of 2018 and the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) (Amendment) No.2 Law No.7 of 2018. Governor Wike said that the laws are necessary to enhance security across the state.
He said that Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency would support existing security agencies with intelligence and information for them to effectively fight crime and make the state safer.
The establishment of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency followed due process all the way. On April 16, Governor Wike inaugurated the board of directors of the agency.
Those inaugurated as Board of Directors of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency include: Rtd Brigadier General Dick Ironabare –Chairman ,Chief Casca Ogosu –Member ,Mr Dennis Amachree -Member ,Prof Emenike Wami -Member,Anthony Uzo Ozurumba -Member
,Uche Mike Chukwuma – Director General
,Mrs Victoria Chikeka — Member , Barrister Nma Omereji , Secretary/Legal Adviser.
At the inauguration, Governor Wike charged the board of directors to kick-start the process of recruiting quality operatives for the agency.
Responding, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency , Brigadier General Dick Ironabare assured the government and people of the state that the agency would work to enhance state-wide security.
He commended the Rivers State Governor for deeming it necessary to set up the new security scheme, which is in line with international best practices of securing communities.
Empowered by law and the Rivers State Government, the leadership of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency started a recruitment drive which spanned several months of screening involving security agencies. Thousands of Rivers youths applied online in a process that was done transparently. It was a trending issue across the state. The website of the agency kept Nigerians abreast of the recruitment process.
Following the directive of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for the the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency ( RIVNESCA) to recruit quality operatives, the agency on Monday 19th November, 2018 commenced the final process of recruiting 3000 personnel.
Thousands of shortlisted candidates gathered at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt for screening by officials of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency ( RIVNESCA) .The statement credited to the quota colonel smacks of gross misconduct and irresponsibility in view of the fact that the General Officer Commanding of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army was informed via a letter of the training exercise.
In a letter titled and dated 12 November,2018: “Request for Drill and Physical Training Instructors”, Brigadier General Dick Ironabare (rtd) –Chairman of Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency outlined the law establishing the agency, functions and recruitment process. The letter was duly acknowledged by the headquarters of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army.

Nwakaudu is Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Electornic Media.
It is sad that the Nigerian Army has joined the Police in suffering from the degenerative security disease. They have abdicated their security responsibilities and descended into the Political arena.
The Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency is patterned after a similar agency still in existence in Lagos State. The Nigerian Army or any security agency for that matter have never challenged the existence of that agency.
Vigilante groups are in existence in Zamfara and Kogi States, with no challenge from the Nigerian Army. Civilian Joint Task Force are in operation in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States under the direct supervision of the Nigerian Army.
The invasion of the training camp of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency is an act of intimidation. Governor Wike has made it quite clear that the Government and People of the state will not succumb to this act of recklessness induced by political hallucination.
The security of lives and property in Rivers State is paramount. Nobody will allow a group of political soldiers with no proven security pedigree to derail the state. In saner climes, the Chief of Army Staff would have thrown in the towel as he is no longer relevant to the resolution of the security challenge facing the country. He is now a major stumbling block to the peace and security of this country.
When the Nigerian Army begins to compete with Lie Mohammed for the lying medal, then it is obvious that we must all re-double our efforts to sack the failed APC Federal Government.

By: Simeon Nwakaudu.

Politics

FG’s Economic Policies Not Working – APC Chieftain

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

A senator who represented Taraba Central, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, has declared that the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu are not yielding the expected results.
His comment is one of the strongest internal critiques yet from within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The comment underscores the growing dissatisfaction within sections of the ruling party over the direction and impact of the administration’s economic reforms amid rising living costs and fiscal pressures across the country.
Mr Yusuf, who served in the Senate between 2015 and 2023 under the platform of the APC, made the remarks during an appearance on national television.
Responding to a question on whether the administration’s economic direction, often referred to as Tinubunomics, was working, Mr Yusuf answered in the contrary.
“For me, it is not working. I am a member of the APC. I would be the last person to hide the facts”, he said.
He said while the government might be operating diligently within its policy structure, the framework itself is ill-suited to Nigeria’s current realities
“Within the policy framework, yes, they are doing their best, but it is not the framework that is suitable for Nigeria at the point in time that President Asiwaju came into power,” he said.
Mr Yusuf criticised the immediate removal of fuel subsidy on the day the president was sworn in, arguing that the decision lacked sufficient consultation and planning.
“I am one of those who say President Asiwaju ought to have waited. Not on the day he was sworn in to say subsidy is gone. On what basis?”, he asked.
He urged broader engagement before major fiscal decisions are taken.
“Sit down with your cabinet, sit down with your ministers, sit down with your advisers,” he said, dismissing the argument that subsidy removal was justified solely on grounds of corruption.
The former lawmaker identified “structural flaws” in the country’s budgeting system, particularly the envelope budgeting model.
“One of the basic problems is that before you budget, you should have a plan. The envelope system we have been operating has been you budget before you plan. That has been a major issue”, he said.
He argued that allocating spending ceilings without aligning them to concrete development strategies inevitably weakens implementation and delivery.
“If you give me an envelope which is contrary to my plan, whether it is plus or minus, there is no way I am going to implement my plan. It is bound to fail,” he said.
Mr Yusuf called for the scrapping of the envelope budgeting system, noting that he had consistently opposed it even during his years in the National Assembly.
“It is not good for us. It is not going to work well for us,” he said.
He further blamed poor capital releases and persistent deficit financing for undermining budget performance over the years.
“We could not meet 60 percent of our capital budget in all these years. No releases. If you make a budget and the release is very poor, there is no way the budget will be executed”, he stated.
According to him, weak fund disbursement mechanisms and reliance on deficit financing have entrenched a cycle of underperformance.
“Our budget ought to have been a surplus budget, but all our budgets have always been deficit financing budgets,” Mr Yusuf added.

Politics

Reps To Meet,’Morrow Over INEC’s 2027 Election Timetable

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian House of Representatives has resolved to reconvene for an emergency session tomorrow February 17, 2026, to deliberate on issues arising from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) release of the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was disclosed in a statement issued by the House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, who described the electoral body’s announcement as one of “constitutional and national significance.”
INEC had fixed February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to the statement, members of the Green Chamber were notified of the emergency sitting through an internal memorandum from the Speaker’s office.
The session is expected to focus on legislative matters connected to the newly released timetable, reflecting the House’s resolve to act promptly on issues affecting the nation’s democratic process.
Rep. Rotimi noted that all related businesses would be treated with urgency and urged lawmakers to prioritise attendance in view of the importance of the deliberations.
INEC had on Friday formally unveiled the comprehensive schedule for the 2027 polls, including timelines for party primaries slated for July to September 2026, as well as the commencement of Continuous Voter Registration in April 2026.
The development comes amid ongoing consultations and proposed amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

Group Continues Push For Real Time Election Results Transmission

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

As the controversy over the transmission of election results continues across the country, the Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD), a pro democracy organisation in the country, has criticised the National Assembly for not giving express approval to real time transmission of elections results.
To this end, the group is calling on all civil society organisations in the country to mobilise and push for a better Electoral Reform in the country.
This was contained in a press statement titled, “Defence For Human Rights and Democracy Demands Real Time Election Transmission of Result”, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
The group described the refusal of compulsory real time transmission of result results by the Senate as undemocratic, adding that the situation will give room for election manipulation, rigging and voters apathy.
It said that the provision of mandatory real time transmission of election results would have significant improvement on the nation’s democracy.
According to the statement, “Since the return of democracy in 1999 to date, it is 27 years, so our Democracy has metamorphosed from being nascent and as such significant improvement should have been recorded.
“Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD), is really disappointed at the National Assembly, especially the upper chamber (Senate) for not approving ‘Real Time Electronic Transmission of Election Result’.
“This undemocratic act of theirs, if not tamed, will give room for election manipulation and rigging’”.
Signed by Comrade Clifford Christopher Solomon on behalf of the organisation, the statement further said, “The Defence For Human Rights and Democracy unequivocally supports real time transmission of election result”, stressing that his group will resist any act by the National Assembly to undermine the nation’s democracy.
“DHRD,unequivocally supports ‘True Democracy’, which is Government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“Therefore, anything that will crash the hope of Nigerians to Freely, Fairly and Transparently elect candidates of their choice in any given election should and will be vehemently resisted because good governance begins with leaders elected through credible process. By so doing, leaders have entered a social contract with the citizens to equitably manage their affairs and abundant resources”, the statement added.
It urged the National Assembly to revisit the issue in order to avoid civil unrest.
According to the DHRD, “To avoid civil unrest,voters apathy, election rigging and manipulation, rather to promote citizens participation, advancing our Democracy and entrenching free, fair, credible and acceptable electoral outcome, the National Assembly should amend the electoral act in a manner that will deepen our democracy and boost citizens confidence.
“On this note, The Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD), is calling on all other civil society organisations (CSOs) to mobilise, organise and push for a better electoral act amendment by the National Assembly”.

By: John Bibor