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Privatisation Of Security Apparatus
Without mincing words or shying away from the truth, there is a palpable fear in many quarters that the nation’s security apparatus as currently constituted has been designed to serve some private agenda. Obviously, every nation is concerned about its security and interests, but it is also common that some private sectional interests can feature as serving national interests. In their book titled, National Security and the American Society, Trager and Simonie defined national security as “the part of government policy having as its objective the creation of national and international conditions favourable to the protection and extension of vital national values against existing or potential adversaries”. We value what gives purpose to life!
What are the “vital national values” of Nigeria that must be protected and extended against any “existing or potential adversaries”? Values, personal or national, derive from ideological orientations, rooted in religion and culture, whose survival qualities fire and sustain national patriotism. As a developing nation, Nigeria is still trying to evolve sustainable national values serving as common impetus towards nationhood and patriotism. At best, what predominates at the moment is rooted in economic and political interests which vary according to nebulous considerations potentate need of an average Nigerian now is “stomach infrastructure”.
The Tide newspaper of Friday, June 7, 2019, had a front-page headline: “Insecurity: Danjuma, Lekwot, Others Drag Buhari to U.K. Parliament”. The issue at stake has to do with the spread of Sharia law across a secular state. References were made to “pursuing a jihad or Islamisation agenda”, Boko Haram and armed Fulani herdsmen and possible suspicion of a conspiracy, etc.
In the same newspaper of Monday, December 30, 2019, there was the following headline: “Insecurity: Reorganise Security Chiefs, NCEF Challenges Buhari”. The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) reminded President Muhammadu Buhari to stand by his words that the Islamic terrorists are godless, callous gangs of mass murderers by reorganising the National Security Units, to comply with the Federal Character Principle in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution. This would mean that the security apparatus is one-sided, not reflecting the Federal Character Principle.
Like similar complaints before now, there were references to “excessive Pro-Islamic direction of this government since 2015”, and a recycling of “repentant terrorists into the Nigerian Army.” We were also told that “presently, Nigeria is divided under its conflict of ideologies which produced ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS” i.e conflict between DEMOCRACY AND SHARID Ideologies. The fear is that the terrorists are emboldened and driven by Sharia ideology.
No honest person would dismiss the suspicion that there are subtle moves to introduce Sharia law into the legal system of a secular, democratic Nigeria. Therefore, the antics of Boko Haram terrorists, armed herdsmen and the Islamic of State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are the harbingers of the shape of things to come. Obviously, there would be spirited denials of any encouragement of the activities of a “remorseless, godless, callous gangs of terrorists that have given Islam a bad name through their atrocities.” Some say the terrorists are not Muslims!
Can any honest person deny the NCEF observation that “the National Security Units that are solely in control are Muslims from the North of Nigeria”? the National Christian Elders Forum also noted that “President Buhari should be held responsible for the audacity, expansion and unbridled atrocities of ISWAP, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria.” Under these aforementioned observations and circumstances, would anyone dismiss the fact that there is a privatisation of the security apparatus of the Nigerian nation?
Is it not possible that there are subtle efforts to raise or install Islamic ideology as embodied in Sharia Law as the “Vital national values” of the Nigerian nation? Taking “National security” as defined by Trager and Simonie, is it not possible that the one Sidedness of the nation’s security apparatus is a deliberate ploy to actualize some private agenda under the umbrella of national interest?
If Nigeria must put together, embrace or adopt some “vital national values”, then, must such project not follow due process, according to law? Same way that Nigeria was made to become a member of the Organisation of Islamix Conference (OIC) without a national debate and agreement is the same way Sharia Law is being introduced. It was with the same strategy, under limitary fiat, that Decree No. 51 of 1969, on oil and gas, was made as serving national interest, at the expense of a section of Nigerians. Does democracy operate that way?
It is a pity that whenever there is an effort to have a genuine national dialogue for the purpose of resolving contentious national issues, some people make deliberate efforts to sabotage or turn such a project into travesty. The result is that agitations are suppressed via the instrumentality of security apparatus and a state of anomie allowed to linger. The task of nation building demands a template designed to foster justice as the basis for unity, freedom and peaceful coexistence.
Professor Omo Omoruyi pointed out long ago that the nation’s military and security apparatus are skewed in favour of the Muslim North. Have the calls for a revisitation of the lop-sided arrangement not been persistent enough to warrant some realistic and courageous change? The use of security personnel for protection of private business empires has implications. Is it not corruption to use public resources for private interests?
President Bola Tinubu has sent the names of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, days after he sent the first batch of three names.
Among them are the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmud Yakubu, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri (Delta), and former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, among others.
“In two separate letters to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors,” read a statement on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the statement titled, ‘Tinubu nominates 32 additional ambassadors,’ Onanuga noted, “There are four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.”
“Among the non-career ambassador designates are Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Adebayo, and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“Others are Tasiu Musa Maigari, the former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former Deputy Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission.
“Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Nkechi Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list,” the statement read.
Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
Among the nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates are: Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi) and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).
The other nominees are Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah(Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
“The new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
“All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate,” it read.
Last week, Tinubu sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and confirmation.
The nominees were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun).
All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.
“More nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon,” Onanuga revealed.
The Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, has reiterated that the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara remains committed to improving access to quality education at all levels.
Dr. Anabraba gave the assurance while receiving the Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr Ayanfemi Adeniran-Amusan in Port Harcourt during a courtesy visit.
He emphasised that Governor Fubara remains resolute in sustaining investment in the education sector to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
According to him, “We appreciate the work you are doing and know that our students are amongst the highest in ranking.
“His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, takes education very seriously. He is sponsoring the free registration of students for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Government Schools.
“Also, Governor Fubara has approved the establishment of Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres across the State’s three senatorial districts and the 23 LGAs. The project is intended to improve access to digital learning and examination facilities for students so that our children are at breast with digital literacy, a prerequisite for today’s students.
“We are currently working assiduously to get those centres, both mega and mini, across the three senatorial districts and the 23 local government ready in order to meet up with your deadline,” he said.
The SSG also conveyed the assurances of the Governor to WAEC on Government’s willingness in providing land for its Zonal Office.
Earlier, the Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator of the West African Examination Council, Mr Ayanfemi Adeniran-Amusan, promised to collaborate with the State Government in matters concerning education development.
In another development, the Secretary to State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, also met with officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, led by the Assistant Director of Intelligence, Rivers State Command, Barr. Ikediashi Nwamaka.
The SSG while appreciating the Agency for its effort in the protection of vulnerable persons, also raised Government’s concern on the activities of orphanages and care homes in unwholesome practices such as child trafficking, abuse of underaged girls also known as baby-factory, and the lack of regulations on surrogacy.
He however assured that the Rivers State Government has already put plans in place towards legislation to regulate these acts against vulnerable persons, particularly women and children.
The Rivers State Government has called on the media to support its efforts towards the promotion of good governance and development of the State.
The State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made the call during the 21st anniversary celebration of The National Network newspaper in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, urged the media to be responsible in its reportage, and contribute towards the growth and development of the State.
He said the government relies on the media to tell the story and enlighten the people on the activities of the government, promote good governance in the society, while at the same time playing the role of a watchdog.
He also urged the media to ensure clarity, honesty and transparency in the discharge of it functions.
Speaking on the theme of the anniversary, “Media Governance and Public Good, 21 Years of National Network in Shaping Civic Participation”, the governor commended the National Network newspaper for its vibrancy and consistency in contributing to the state democratic landscape.
He noted that the media outfit has emerged as one of the strongest pillars in the growth and development of the State.
The Chairman of the anniversary celebration and former Commissioner for Information and Communications in the State, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, also commended the staff and management of the National Network for their resilience, and for remaining professional in the last 21 years.
He particularly praised the publisher of the newspaper, Pastor Jerry Needam, for demonstrating professionalism in the discharge of his duties, urging him to sustain the tempo.
In his remarks, the Editor-In-Chief of the National Network, Dr Chris Okonkwo, said for the past 21 years, the newspaper has maintained its constant presence in the newsstand, and also contributed so much towards the improvement of the society despite the economic downturn in the country.
According to him, “we are celebrating 21 years of uninterrupted presence in the newsstand despite the economic downturn and paucity of funds.”
He commended the state government for its support to the newspaper over the years, adding that the celebration was also a victory over police harassment.
The highpoint of the anniversary was the presentation of awards to some individuals for their contributions towards the growth of the media.
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