28012020

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020—5
POCKET CARTOON
PDP NEC Meeting— From left: Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara; PDP National
Chairman, Prince Uche Sekondus and Former Senate President, Senator David Mark exchanging
greetings during the opening of the PDP 88th National Executive Council Meeting at the National
Secretariat, Wadata House, Wuse, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
Our central security system has failed
— SENATE PRESIDENT
By Emma Amaize,
Regional Editor,
South-South, Henry
Umoru, Omeiza
Ajayi & Olayika
Ajayi
ABUJA— THE
S e n a t e
President,
Ahmed Lawan, yesterday
took a holistic overview of
the current centralised
security architecture in
Nigeria and described it
as a failed system that
must be overhauled in all
its ramifications.
According to the Senate
President, “if we must get
it right in the country, it
has become imperative to
restructure the security
architecture.”
Aligning with the
Senate President, Lagos
lawmaker representing
Amuwo-Odofin II and
Chairman, House
Committee on Legislative
Compliance, Mr Rauf
Olawale, said there was
need for restructuring.
Meanwhile, the Federal
Government has
explained its decision to
pay close attention to the
issue of community
policing, saying the
system is one sure way of
tackling security
challenges as it
incorporates all segments
of the society into its
operations.
Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation, SGF, Boss
Mustapha, stated this
when he received in
audience the re-elected
member of the House of
Representatives from
Kano State, Alhassan
Doguwa.
Failed
centralised
security
architecture
Speaking yesterday in
Abuja, while fielding
questions from
Journalists, President of
the Senate, Senator
Ahmed Lawan, who
noted that though series
of efforts had been made
in the past by both the
executive and the
legislative arms of
government to address
challenges of insecurity in
the country, the
worsening security
situation requires
restructuring of the failing
architecture.
Lawan said: “We have
had series of
engagements before but
the escalation now has
made it mandatory that
we have a definite
position as a government
because we just cannot
play politics with security
issues.
“Lives are being wasted.
Therefore, the Senate will
take a position on how
security in the country
should be. We believe that
the security architecture
should be restructured.
“We believe that the
security architecture
should be restructured.
The present system does
not appear to give us the
type of outcome we need.
Whether it is the federal,
state or local government;
even the traditional rulers
or others, the most
important thing is to
secure the lives and
property of Nigerians and
we must do that.
“Apparently and
obviously, all hands must
be on deck to ensure that
we bring back a better
security situation like we
had before.
“Presently, the story is
not good in many areas,
so much is happening
that is destabilising our
communities, killing of
our people and we believe
that we owe Nigerians the
responsibility to intervene
and work with the
executive arm of
government, actually to
work together with other
tiers of government, the
states and local
governments to ensure
that we change the way
we approach security
issues in the country.
“The present
arrangement is not
working effectively and
efficiently and we have to
do something, and this
time around, there
shouldn’t be buck
passing, we have to be
forthright, we have to say
it as it is, and we have to
do it as it is required.”
Why we are
pushing for
community
policing —FG
Director, Information in
the Office of the SGF,
Willie Bassey said Mr
Mustapha also assured
Nigerians that the
security of lives and
property will continue to
be the cardinal objective
of the President
Muhammadu Buhari
administration.
“Mustapha indicated
that the executive will
continue to work in
synergy with the
Legislature to ensure that
appropriate laws are
promulgated that would
enhance protection of
lives and property across
Continues on Page 41
By Bose Adelaja &
Olayinka Latona
Is FG doing enough to tackle insecurity?(2)
The level of
insecurity in Nigeria is
worrisome and the most
touching thing is the way and
manner it is being handled by
the FG. Honestly, the FG is
not doing enough; many lives
are being wasted. Nigeria is
overpopulated and the
number of policemen in the
country cannot cope with this
teeming population, so the
FG must rise up to the
challenge by introducing
measures within the security
framework.
-Jerry Ujeku, Businessman
The FG is doing
enough, within the
limits of the resources
available to it. Nigeria is a
complex state politically
and past governments
have not done enough to
address its complexity.
Restructuring especially in
the area of security, is very
vital at this point, which is
why the Amotekun concept
of the SW is timely. We
need to decentralise some
things.
-Ayotunde Oduekun
Businessman
In my opinion, the FG
is trying to fight
insecurity but I believe
they can do more.
Security should be the
number one on their list
as the lives of citizens
are paramount. The FG
therefore, should not
relent in its fight against
insecurity in Nigeria so
that there can be peace
and orderliness in the
country.
-Adelayo Adebayo
HR Personnel
Idon’t think the issue
of security is being
well tackled by the FG.
They’re doing it in the
wrong way. There should
be more training for
security personnel. They
should also be
adequately equipped
with modern and
sophisticated weapons.
Without the right
weapons, no nation can
successfully fight
insecurity.
-Ojo Moyosoreoluwa
Entrepreneurs
From my observation,
it’s obvious that the
FG lacks the will to handle
Nigeria’s security
challenges. All that is
needed to tackle insecurity
is genuine commitment
from the FG, engaging all
stakeholders, deploying
innovative strategies and
improving on the capacity
and welfare of security
personnel and agencies.I
think FG is not doing
enough.
-Chiedum Tim Elumelu
Entrepreneur
Remember
the
Adamawa State
incidence. The CAN
chairman, Lawan Andimi,
didn’t have to die. Even after
he pleaded in a video clip
released by the insurgents to
be rescued, the man was
killed! So Nigerians know the
right answer when it comes
to the issue of insecurity. The
FG needs to do more than just
negotiations. They need to
take these matters seriously
and get the job done.
-Jude Oseh, Youth
Advocate