17022021 - Insecurity: Nigeria heading to point of no return, unless....

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021
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FOR JAKANDE:
Dr. Rotimi
Oladele, former
President of
Nigerian Institute
of Public Relations,
NIPR signing the
condolence register
for late former
governor of Lagos
State, Alhaji Lateef
Kayode Jakande at
NIJ Ogba, Ikeja
yesterday, while
Provost of Nigerian
Institute of
Journalism, NIJ,
Mr. Gbenga
Adefaye looks on.
Insecurity: Nigeria heading to point of no return,
unless... — ex-Head of State, Gen. Abubakar
By Wole Mosadomi
M
I N N A —
FORMER Head of
State, General Abdulsalami
Abubakar, retd, said yesterday
that the country stood the risk
of disintegration, if the violence
currently spreading in the
system was allowed to fester.
Consequently, the former
head of state, whose warning
came against the backdrop of
recent ethnic clashes,
insurgency, banditry and
kidnapping across the country,
urged Nigerians to remain
calm.
Addressing journalists in his
uphill residence in Minna,
Niger State, Abubakar said the
recent spread of violence across
the country, if not carefully
handled, might lead Nigeria to
a point of no return.
He called on all Nigerians,
especially the governors, to take
full responsibility in managing the
divergent voices and frustrations
within their states that could fuel
disunity, anarchy and
disintegration.
General Abubakar, who is the
chairman of the National Peace
Committee, NPC, said: “As if the
continued insurgency in the
country, the kidnap and armed
robbery are not cup full, the
recent happenings in some parts
of the country, of ethnic attacks,
is unfortunate and is adding to
the problems.
“In the last two weeks or so,
tension has been growing in
the country and embers of
disunity, anarchy and
disintegration are spreading
fast and if care is not taken, this
might lead us to a point of no
return.
“We at the National Peace
Committee, wish to add our
voice to the voices of millions
of Nigerians calling for calm in
these difficult times because
these times demand that we all
join hands to resolve our
challenges so as to keep our
country united. We do not have
the luxury of trading blames.
“Thousands of our people are
homeless and have refugees
across the length and breadth
of their own country.
“We know the difficulties that
our farmers have faced in the last
few years and that the harvests
will be a serious challenge this
year.
‘’Therefore, let us all rally
in these hard times, make
the required sacrifices and
remain vigilant, standing by
one another.’’
General Abubakar also
appealed to governors of states
to sheathe their swords, saying
“they should tone down their
rhetoric and take full
responsibility for managing the
divergent voices and frustrations
within their states.
“It is true that we are all in a
states of fear and collective
anxiety. However, the last thing
we need is for the enemy to sense
a lack of unity on our part or a
break in our ranks.’’
His admonition to the
governors came on the heels
of the verbal exchange
between Bauchi State
governor, Bala Mohammed,
and his Ondo State
counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu,
over the propriety of herdsmen
bearing AK47 rifles.
While the Bauchi governor
justified the action of the
herders, claiming they were not
being protected by the
government, Akeredolu
described his statement as
provocative.
Abubakar also urged the new
service chiefs and the Inspector
General of Police to rise to the
urgent demands of the moment.
“You need to rally your troops
and design the best strategy to
end this tragic war that has
continued to consume and
destroy the foundations of our
dear country.
“We hope that based on your
field experiences in this war, you
can draw up a well co-ordinated
programme to ensure that all our
resources are deployed to
achieve the much needed victory
in this avoidable war,” he charged
the security chiefs.
The former head of state also
called on traditional institutions,
religious leaders as well as
development associations,
including Non Governmental
Organisations, NGOs, to work
towards mobilizing Nigerians on
the need to live in peace with
one another.
Recall that ethnic tensions,
particularly, in the South West,
had recently gripped the country,
especially in Oyo, Ondo and
Ogun states, following clashes
between the Yoruba and Fulani
herders on one hand, and the
Hausas on the other hand.
These are exclusive of the
spate of terrorist attacks, banditry,
kidnapping, cattle-rustling and
armed robbery in the different
parts of the country.
Illegal fire arms: Senate seeks stiffer punishment for offenders
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—THE Senate has
moved to impose stiffer
penalty for those in possession of
illegal firearms in Nigeria to serve
as a deterrent tom potential
offenders.
According to the Senate, the
action is, among others, designed
to control influx of illicit firearms
into the country.
It also raised the alarm that of
the estimated 500 million
weapons circulating in West
Africa, 350 million, representing
70%, were in Nigeria.
The Senate equally called for
the establishment of a
comprehensive disarmament
and arms destruction ceremony
for Nigeria that should be carried
out through the Office of the
National Security Adviser, Major-
Gen Babagana Monguno,
retd, to ensure that
confiscated illegal firearms do
not re-enter the society.
This is even as the move by
the Senate to amend the 50-
year-old Firearms Act yesterday
scaled second reading.
The bill was referred to the
Senate Committee on Judiciary,
Human Rights and Legal
Matters, led Senator Opeyemi
Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, for
further legislative work and report
back at Plenary within four weeks.
The move by the Senate
followed a bill seeking to amend
the Principal Act, sponsored by
Senator Uba Sani, APC, Kaduna
Central, entitled ‘’Firearms CAP
F28 LFN 2004( Amendment) Bill,
2021( SB. 549).’’
The Senate called for the
provision of a stipulated time
within which the destruction of
unserviceable firearms must be
carried out, except where there
was a valid court order to the
contrary.
According to the Upper
Chamber, there is the urgent
need to proffer an effective,
coordinated and sustained
legislative strategy to address the
underlying factors encouraging
the circulation of arms and
concurrently block the outlets
through which illicit firearms are
proliferated.
The Senate resolved that
proactive measures must be
taken to stop easy access to and
re-circulation of illegal arms in
communities.
Earlier in his lead debate,
sponsor of the bill, Senator Sani,
noted that the major objective of
the bill was to impose stiffer
penalty for offences under the Act
to serve asa deterrent as well as
strengthen current efforts by
government to control the influx
of illegal firearms.
According to him, the bill makes
provision for the destruction of
firearms brought into the country
illegally.
Arguing further that the
amendment would help Nigeria
address its current security
challenges, Sani said: ‘’The Bill
seeks to impose stiffer penalty for
offences in the Principal Act, and
provide for the destruction of
firearms imported illegally into the
country or in the possession of
individuals without valid licences.
“You will recall that the bill was
first read on the floor of this Senate
on November 25, 2020. The main
aim of the proposed amendments
is to curtail the proliferation of
illegal arms and bring the existing
law in line with global best
practices. The amendment will
also effectively address some of
the security challenges currently
plaguing Nigeria.
“The United Nations Regional
Centre for Peace and
Disarmament in Africa, UNREC,
recently reported that
proliferation of illicit small arms
and light weapons, SALW, in
Nigeria has reached an alarming
proportion. Analysts estimate
that out of the 500 million
weapons that may be circulating
in West Africa, 350mMillion,
which represents 70% of such
weapons, can be found in Nigeria.
Buhari to Ambassadors: Strive
to promote trade, foreign direct
investment
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
A BUJA—PRESIDENT
Muhammadu Buhari has
urged ambassadors-designate,
consuls-general and charge’ d’
Affaires to continually project the
strengths of Nigeria, showcase
priorities of the government and
uphold standards that will bring
honour to the country.
President Buhari gave the
charge at the virtual induction /
orientation held for them at the
National Intelligence Agency,
NIA, auditorium.
In a statement issued by the
Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, Chief
Femi Adesina, yesterday, the
President told the diplomats to
always be mindful of the policy
direction of the government,
particularly the nine priorities it
had listed.
He further charged them to
strive to promote trade, human
capacity development, foreign
direct investment and other areas
of cooperation with countries at
national and multilateral levels
to support national growth and
development.
He said: “You must not forget
that you have been posted to
your respective bilateral and
multilateral missions to represent
and project Nigeria as a great and
Buhari appoints Abdulrasheed
Bawa as substantive EFCC boss
By Henry Umoru &
Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
A
B
U J A —
PRESIDENT
Muhammadu Buhari has
appointed Abdulrasheed Bawa as
the substantive chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
Recall that President Buhari
had last year suspended the
Acting chairman of the anticorruption
agency, Ibrahim
Magu, over corruption
allegations.
The appointment of Bawa, 40,
as the EFCC boss was contained
in a statement issued by the
Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, Chief
Femi Adesina, in Abuja
yesterday.
In a letter to President of the
Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan,
President Buhari said he was
indivisible nation and a very
attractive investment
destination.
“In our effort to achieve
realistic development-oriented
domestic and foreign policies, the
government has identified nine
priority areas to guide our policy
directions and thrust within the
time frame of 2019-2023.
“These are: build a thriving and
sustainable economy;
enhance social inclusion and
reduce poverty; enlarge
agricultural output for food
security and export; attain energy
sufficiency in power and
petroleum products; expand
transport and other
infrastructural development;
expand business opportunities,
entrepreneurship and
industrialization; expand access
to quality education, affordable
healthcare and productivity of
Nigerians.’’
The President also noted that
the priorities include building a
system to fight corruption,
improve governance, create
social cohesion and improve
security for all.
“I, therefore, urge all of you to
be guided by these identified
priority goals, as well as your
various station charters which
highlight specific mandates and
guidelines on government’s
expectation. We expect you to
fight hard for Nigeria and for
Nigerians abroad.''
Federal High Court stops payment
of filing fees in human rights cases
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
ABUJA—THE Federal High
Court has stopped the
charging of filing fees in the
prosecution of human rights
cases.
Chief Judge of the High Court,
Justice John Tsoho, gave the
directive in a circular yesterday,
by an Assistant Chief Registrar
(Litigation) of the court, Jane
Egbo.
Prior to the directive, applicants
in fundamental rights
enforcement suits were
mandated to pay filing fees before
their cases are assigned to a
Judge for hearing.
acting in accordance with Paragraph
2(3) of Part1, CAP E1 of
EFCC Act 2004.
“Bawa, 40, is a trained EFCC
investigator with vast experience
in the investigation and
prosecution of Advance Fee
Fraud cases, official corruption,
bank fraud, money laundering,
and other economic crimes.
“ He has undergone several
specialized trainings in different
parts of the world, and was one of
the pioneer EFCC Cadet Officers
in 2005. He holds a B.Sc degree
in Economics, and Masters in
International Affairs and
Diplomacy,’’ the statement read.
Meanwhile, the letter was read
by the Senate President on the
floor of the Senate yesterday.
With this letter from President
Buhari to the Senate, the
suspended former acting
chairman of the EFCC,
Ibrahim Magu, is effectively
out of the system.
Such litigants were also
required to pay default fees when
processes are filed outside the
period allowed by rules of the
court.
However, the new circular,
entitled: Re; Monetary claims
and default fees in
fundamental right
applications, read: “I have
been directed by the Chief Judge
of the Federal High Court,
Justice Tsoho to inform all
DCRs (Deputy Chief
Registrars) and Station
Registrars that henceforth,
monetary claims and default
fees in respect of fundamental
human right applications should
no longer be charged. Be so
informed and comply accordingly.''