There are too many examples that point
to the state of insecurity in Nigeria.
Hardly any part of the country is free from this orgy of violence. For too long, life has become even more brutish than it was under the state of nature and no answer appears to be in sight.
The primary duty of every government under the sun is to provide security for the people as well as create the enabling environment for mutual coexistence. In some climes, any government that fails to provide security takes the path of honour by resigning.
Because of the way Nigeria is structured, all the coercive instruments of state are under the Federal Government. While the Federal Government should therefore be held responsible for the state of insecurity, it is encouraged to declare a state of emergency and sack a duly elected government at the state level for perceived state of insecurity.
The lie that Nigeria lives also finds expression in the saying that the Governor is the Chief Security Officer of the State just as the Local Government Chairman of the Local Government Council is so ascribed, even when they have no security operative under their command.
Perhaps, the first step at addressing the elevated state of insecurity in Nigeria is the implementation of true federalism that would allow the States to establish their own police and the major cities to create their own police like the New York Police, The Dallas Police, etc.
The next step should be to make politicians be responsible for the security of the land. It is no longer argued that some politicians have held their own by inciting fears, killings and outright state of insecurity. This is not to say how some have created militias, armed hapless youth and stolen the mandate of the people.
In some States, the state of insecurity is not only sponsored by politicians but exaggerated by them with a view to tagging the state ungovernable so as to declare a state of emergency. These politicians who play the ostrich have sworn that nobody would sleep unless they take over the political fortunes of their States.
Even as The Tide wonders what the Federal Government is doing about the unacceptable level of insecurity across Nigeria, the number of untouchables in Nigeria have become too many to ignore as even herdsmen have made the list. Similarly, the disregard for the rights and peace of other persons has become too glaring. Of course, the rule of law took a leave first.
At times of elevated security threat, so much is expected from the police. But because of the general lack of patriotism, the police, like other officers of State, are not able to act professionally. In fact, they fall over each other to serve the interest of persons in authority, no matter how wrong, unlawful and repugnant such interest may be.
In some places, the police is apparently hostile to the people, while the courts have become un-advisable to approach. The very base of personal protection is lost in the country and the people are too intimidated and hungry to speak up. They cannot agree on anything especially with the new political culture in the land.
Everywhere in the world, politics is being used to seek the best interest of the people, but whether the same can be said of Nigeria remains to be seen. Everywhere in the world, the people come first, again, if the same can be said in Nigeria is doubtful, as Nigerians are killed with reckless abandon and nothing happens.
A country that is inundated with security challenges cannot take pleasure in removing food from the mouths of her people nor making life unbearable for them and expect civility. Certainly, the army of the unemployed and indoctrinated will be too ready to take up the alternative jobs.
The Tide is persuaded that the much-needed security in Nigeria can only be achieved when the political authorities especially at the federal level want it to be so. The idea of targeting some people with security operatives is not how to fight insecurity. It can only create more problems for the country.