WHY TINUBU’s GOVERNMENT MUST KICK ARSE NOW_ by: femi afolabi-peters

TAMING THE SECURITY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

WHY TINUBU’s GOVERNMENT MUST KICK ARSE NOW_

by:

femi afolabi-peters

 

 

*{MSc International Police Science, UK}

{UK international security & intelligence consultant; specialist in clandestine security operations)

 

 

 

News of the recent Bodija , Ibadan mega explosion jolted me to the marrow and the resultant carnage bothered my mind not less. This incident came on the heels of successful kidnapping incidents nationwide quickly followed by more brazen incidents in Ekiti state only just a few days ago.

 

 

 

I still try to comprehend why the successive government input into resources is not justified by tangible results and reductions in the violent criminal wave but here I am with more questions than answers.
At this juncture, am tempted to ask how did we get here and why?
Going back in time, previous governments could have tamed the insecurity monster if only they had sincerity of purpose and the will to go to the root causes and address issues as most professionally and honestly as possible.
Am opinionated about how the present government can mitigate the threats of violent crime to the economy and safety of the people and property and I make no apologies for this. Much as causation has been attributed to poverty, religious and ethnic extremism and what not, i proffer the federal government revisit its security architecture and remodel countermeasure strategies to yield fruitful results. It behoves a good businessman to recoil his strategies if output isn’t justified by investments and this is what the government must do, a kind of serious rethink to stem the incessant increase in this violent crime typology.
Practical and result oriented steps can contrast political considerations and gains but therein lies the solution if only President Tinubu possess the will power to bell the cat for national and collective good.
Previous governments shied away from going the full hog because of ethnic and religious considerations but where are we now?

I suggest the following practical approaches to confront the situation and bring the much needed and long overdue respite to the hapless Nigerians who wake up daily with the apprehension of unmitigated attack by the sons of lucifer merchandisers:

1. JUDICIARY: a special court should be set up to fast track and conclude promptly,cases of apprehended suspects without the customary delay which emboldens other would be kidnappers to engage in the ‘trade’ safe in the knowledge that while their trial is protracted, justice can be unduly influenced by money and other conditions. I clamour this position on the background of the lengthy time it took the Lagos State government to conclude the trial of that notorious kidnapper – Evans. Even at that, i doubt if Evans’ chapter has been fully brought to conclusion as there may be pending appeal to the apex court by his lawyers
2. ⁠LEGISLATURE: the National Assembly should as a matter of doctrine of necessity introduce and fast track a bill to create and empower a special court to handle and dispense with kidnapping and banditry trials. Modus operandi of the court including but not limited to financial autonomy, sentencing and other statutory powers should be unambiguously stated in the enacted law
3. ⁠EXECUTIVE (A) without a strong and purposeful political will by TINUBU’s government, Nos. 1 and 2 above can only be a pipe dream and for this to manifest, TINUBU must be prepared to “KICK ARSE” for collective good and damn the consequences. He must be sincere in this approach to earn the trust of the populace which already is battered by the effects of the economic downturn on everyday living
4. ⁠EXECUTIVE (B) the situation calls for a revisit to the widely clamoured re-organization of the first responder law enforcement agency in the country – the Nigerian Police. I have for a long time subscribed to the notion of dismantling the over centralized police management system in favour of state or regional units. This will encourage improved policing in the community predicated on direct and reliable intelligence gathering to detect and deter crime before commission. Each state /regional government collaboration will fashion a result oriented Standard Operating Procedure, SOP, in line with expectations and decide its security needs and priorities and act accordingly without relying on a over centralized system in Abuja. State security votes from the federal government can be augmented to enhance operational efficiency. Budgetary allocations expenditures can be monitored closely to deter mis placement of priorities and corruption. Standards of employment of recruits and officer cadre will be determined by the state/region and not some counterproductive considerations hiding behind a flawed and obsolete Federal Character Commission. Continuous on the job training will be mandatory to improve performance in line with modern law enforcement agencies’ practices obtainable elsewhere in the world.

Finally, I hope, but with some strong reservations for political expediency , that TINUBU will take the bull by the horn, kick arse and provide a safe and secure Nigerian environment for the citizens to inhabit without fear and trepidation and consequentially encourage Foreign Direct Investment to stimulate the country’s economy which presently is in dire straits!