Overhaul Security System, Activist Tells Jonathan

A foremost activist in the Niger Delta region, Chief Anab, Sara Igbe, says that for the country to move forward, President Goodluck Jonathan should reorganise his security mechanism with a view to bringing modern techniques and tools of intelligence gathering and policy. 

Speaking to The Tide in an interview at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Chief Igbe said, “unless we do that, we will still be going the analogue system which will not move our security system forward”.

According to him, “the world is global and we are now in a digital world, which means we have to go digital to be able to get what we want”, pointing out that a well organised security outfit must ensure the establishment of facts with evidence and proof.”

He said: “For a well organised security outfit, they must establish facts, they must produce evidence and prove beyond reasonable doubt that somebody is planning to poison Mr President’s food. If such a security information is got, you don’t make noise or raise alarm. All you need to do is to police it, monitor it and come out with a concrete evidence by informing the President. That is what security is all about and that is what is called intelligence”.

On the threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) to carry out further bombings in some parts of the country, Sara Igbe said: “I want to ask; what is their ambition, what is their desire, what do they really want? If MEND is meant for the Niger Deltans, what complaints have they made to the elders of the region to present their grievances?

“We all agree that Jonathan may not be the best but for the people of the Niger Delta, we have decided to support him. For the first time, let us hold the trust, let us also participate in the National Security Council (NSC) at all times. If today we are having a son who will be steering the ship of this country for us, why don’t we allow him to win the election come next month”, he emphasized.

The Niger Delta activist regretted that the struggle for the emancipation of the people of the region has moved from the reality to greed to selfishness, pointing out that “the only way we can save the Niger Delta is to think back at the oppressed and for those in leadership to do what they are supposed to do”.

Said he: “We should come to our knees and pray for our leaders so that they will be able to extend development to our people and stop the idea of throwing bombs and killing innocent citizens or destroying what the government has managed to put in place”. He urged MEND to review its stand and not to bring the people of the Niger Delta into disrepute by their actions.

Shedie Okpara