The recent expression of shock at the level of violence in the North-west and other parts of the country by President Muhammadu Buhari is at best unintelligible and insensitive. To say one was disillusioned would be putting it mildly. Was that a joke or a feel-good kind of statement?
As the commander-in-chief, the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility as enshrined in the constitution and expressing shock at an obvious malaise as this, is just plain ignorance. It is inimical to the psyche of the country, in that the ordinary man will feel unrelenting bleakness, seeing that he knows what the C-in C of all people doesn’t care.
Someone needs to remind the president that he swore an oath to protect the lives and property of Nigerians and from the look of things, he is gradually failing them.
The security situation in the country needs to improve NOW! It’s just wrong for Nigerians to feel unsafe in their own country. One would have thought the President’s first move after the call for his resignation by the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, would have been to fire the service chiefs who by the way are due for retirement. What we got however after the emergency meeting was a labyrinth – the president briefed the chiefs “urging various security arms to collaborate more in combating criminality”. We’ve had a series of these kinds of meetings and “urges” and look where we are now! We thank the current chiefs for job done so far but it gets obvious by the day the military needs new blood and ideas in charge.
Look I’m not pooh-poohing the job done thus far by the military and this government in trying to secure lives and property, especially considering where we’re coming from (where pilfering of funds meant for our security was the norm), but more needs to be done. It’s time the President urgently replaced the current service chiefs. This will be a good start.
Additionally, the Inspector-General of Police must as a matter of urgency withdraw police officers who are acting as guards, and errand boys to prominent individuals as we don’t even have enough men to protect us all.
Increased unemployment rate automatically causes youth restiveness and there is no denying the fact that there is a nexus between unemployment and insecurity. The government needs to do more in fulfilling its contractual obligation to better the lives of Nigerians. There is a need for holistic reforms in agriculture, tech, skill acquisition centres and the creation of other employment opportunities.
Our security challenges are not insurmountable. Buhari just needs to take the lead in changing the process and the norm… but first, let the service chiefs go!
Chiechefulam Ikebuiro, Lagos
