Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of his Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a national commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The opposition party described the action as a highly provocative assault on the nation’s constitution and democratic process.
PDP said: “Indeed, from Mr. President’s public promises, one would have thought that he was desirous of leaving a legacy of credible elections, having failed in all ramifications of governance.
“However, this nomination of his personal staff, Lauretta Onchie, as INEC national commissioner, supports the position of PDP that his statements were mere glib talks on electoral sanctity and clearly demonstrates that he has no plans whatsoever to leave a legacy of credible polls.
“This ugly development is another shameful attempt to plant unscrupulous elements in INEC in order to corrupt and further desecrate the sanctity of the commission, undermine our electoral system and destabilise our democratic process ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“We had hoped that, as Mr. President had professed in the past, he is truly running his second and final term in office. If that were so, then Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as INEC national commissioner clearly points to a totally different direction.
“Indeed, her nomination dresses up Mr. President as having more than an interest in legacy building and portrays him as one who has a personal candidature interest in the 2023 election. The only way to prove otherwise is to quickly withdraw Onochie’s nomination before the Senate.
“Moreover, being a card-carrying member of the APC as records shows (from Ward 5 Onicha Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State), Onochie’s nomination is in clear violation of paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which forbids a person involved in partisan politics to hold office as a member of INEC.
“It is therefore surprising that having sworn to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. President is taking actions that are antithetical to the very constitution and democratic governance.
“These actions are deliberate attempts by President Buhari to inflame social tensions, undermine our constitution and desecrate the sanctity of our electoral process, rather than finding solutions to the myriads of problems pervading our country.”
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, pointed out that it’s standing shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians.
PDP promised to deploy “every legitimate means possible in a democracy to stop the approval of this provocative nomination of Lauretta Onochie as INEC national commissioner.”
The Federal Government has begun a nationwide stakeholders’ engagement to improve internal security and strengthen conflict resolution to bring an end to security challenges across the country.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on Tuesday ìn Maiduguri, Borno State capital expressed government’s commitment to ending the wave of insecurity across the country.
The Minister, declaring that enough was enough and that security agencies must rise to the occasion of securing the nation from criminal elements urged Nigerians and the people of Borno State, in particular, to support the President Muhammadu Buhari led-Administration in its efforts at exterminating insurgency.
Aregbesola, while delivering a speech titled “The People as the Cornerstone of Security”, said the summit was called to tap from the wealth of experience of the Kanem Borno Empire that made it to stand secured for 1, 200 years, more than the Byzantine Empire or the Holy Roman Empire.
A statement by the Ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Mohamed Manga, quoted the Minister to have said that President Buhari and members of the Cabinet are greatly pained over the hardship Nigerians are going through on account of the security challenges in some parts of the country and are determined to do whatever is necessary to bring an end to the activities of these marauders.
“Enough is enough. Some nations have faced them before and have come out victorious. We are going to do the same and nothing is going to stop us. But to be able to win, we need the support of the people. We must understand that the defence and security architectural complex is a pyramid. Sitting on the top is the military, followed by the police, next is the other security agencies and at the base, carrying and supporting the complex, are the people who are the security-agency-at-large.”
In his commendation of security agencies, the Minister recognised their doggedness in the fight against crime and criminality in the country.
He also called on them to see the people as important to achieving success, stating that people are the essence of a nation and not just a territorial space, and thus, constitutes the singular most important basis of all the institutions of the state.
“Any security agency operating within a national space that disregards the support of the people is simply doomed in its mission of defence and security. I am of the firm opinion that if the security agencies have the trust and support of the people, the terrorists and those constituting threat to life and property in any part of the country, would not be anonymous. They would have been handed over by now. The insurgents and other criminals who are disturbing us, are not ghosts but humans, nevertheless they are a tiny minority. They can never withstand a united and determined people who take their security seriously.” Aregbesola emphasised.
While emphasising on collaboration between security agencies and the people, the Minister admitted that a formidable military might and cutting-edge technology are necessary in the fight against crime and criminality, observing that without the support of the people, they may be ineffective.
“The government needs the support of the people in confronting a mobile, flexible and fluid insurgents that hide among the people”, he emphasised.
Similarly, the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, also at the stakeholders’ engagement, assured that the Government and people of Borno would continue to support the efforts of the Federal Government in its determination to ensuring the restoration of peace and security in the state.
He thanked the President Buhari-led administration for liberating a substantial part of the State and the Northeast from the grip of the insurgents.
The Governor narrated how some time ago, 23 of the 27 local government areas of the State were fully controlled by insurgents but for the military intervention of the Federal Government that reversed the situation.
In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, Alh. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba pledged the support of the traditional rulers to the Federal Government in its efforts towards finding lasting peace and security in all parts of the country.
Those who attended the stakeholders’ engagement are Ministers of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd); Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi and Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed.
Others are Chairman Senate Committee on Interior and his counterpart in the House of Representatives; IGP, Mohammed Adamu; Controller-General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Ahmed Ja’faru; Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammad Babandede; Controller-General, Federal Fire Service (FFS) Dr. Liman Ibrahim and Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Muhammadu Gana Abdullahi; as well as traditional rulers including other relevant internal security stakeholders.
The #EndSARS protest Monday turned violent in part of Lagos State as the demonstration consumed the life of a police inspector and a bystander, leaving two other officers critically Injured.
Confirming the development, Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti-Kidnapping Unit Office of the command located at Iyun Road in Surulere, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap suspects.
In the ensuing melee, Adejobi said Inspector Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493; Inspector Peter Agabi with AP No 251138; and Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit were shot and critically injured.
According to him, “Today, being 12th October, 2020, at about 1pm, some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti Kidnapping Unit Office of the command, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap cases suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled.
“In the process, Inspector Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493, Inspector Peter Agabi with AP No 251138 and Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State Command, located at Iyun Road, Surulere were shot and critically injured; they have been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
“In addition, the protesters fired and killed one Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, 55 years, a driver of one Toyota Sienna Bus, with Registration Number LSD 296 FX, who got stuck in the traffic caused by the blockage of the road by the violent protesters, in Surulere today.
“It is petinent to state that the attacked police inspectors and Mr Ikechukwu Ilohamauzu were hit and injured by pellets reasonably fired from pump actions/locally-made guns. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.”
The Public Relations Officer noted that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the Homicide section of SCID, Yaba to carry out thorough investigation into the incidence for further police actions.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Government has also corroborated the narrative by Lagos State Police Command.
The state government, in a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, dismissed the widely publicised notion that an #EndSARS protester was killed.
“The attention of Lagos State Government has been drawn to reports that an #ENDSARS protester has been killed in Surulere. This is not true.
“A group of hoodlums stormed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit at Hogan Bassey Street, Surulere, to free two suspects standing trial for alleged kidnapping. They shot three officers. One of them, Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji, unfortunately, died. The others are Inspectors Ekein Joshua and Peter Agabi.
“The hoodlums, while escaping, fired into the air. A bystander was hit. He also died – sadly,” Omotoso said.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones, praying God to strengthen them.
He urged all those concerned to ensure that protests do not degenerate further and create room for hoodlums who do not mean well for our society, adding that the state government is working with the police to ensure the restoration of the peace that Lagos has always been proud of.
Also, Lagos State Commissioner of Police has called for calm and professionalism from the protesters and police personnel respectively as the #EndSARS protests have been hijacked by some unscrupulous elements, who are fully armed.
Odumosu urged protesters to be peaceful and avoid violent attacks on police personnel or any other security agents, warning them not to harass innocent Lagosians by picketing them to forcefully join the protests; and should avoid blocking access routes or roads for other Nigerians who are as well entitled to their fundamental human rights.
He also appealed to parents and guardians to keep watch on their children and monitor their activities to avoid being mobilised and used for illegal activities in the state.
Nigeria's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, Tuesday yielded more grounds to the yearnings of the #EndSARS protesters by officially replacing Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with a new team called Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).
The new team is expected to fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS.
Prospective members of the new team, in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020, have been ordered to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.
The officers, formerly known as SARS personnel, are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
It would be recalled that Adamu had over the weekend announced the dissolution of SARS unit after days of agitation across the country.
Despite this, protest continues in major South-west, South-south, South-east and North-central regions of the country.
The medical examination would be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a Unit, which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, re-orientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.
The unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society and other human Rlrights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.
Adamu, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the personnel are to commence training at the different police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
While personnel from the Police Commands in the South-east and the South-south would be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College in Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-west would be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende in Nasarawa State; and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun in Osun State, respectively.
While reaffirming his irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the police reforms, IGP enjoined members of the public, particularly protesting citizens to exercise restraint and allow measures being put in place to come to fruition and engender a police force that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry.
A file photo of Nigerians protesting the killing of a young man, Kolade Johnson, by a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operative in April 2019.
A meeting with the leadership of Nigeria Police Force and other stakeholders had agreed to meet the demands of the #EndSARS protesters which included halting use of force against demonstrators and unconditional release of arrested Nigerians.
The meeting affirmed and described the five-point demands of the protesters and the #EndSARS movement as genuine concerns that should be urgently addressed by the Federal Government.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), it was agreed thus:
“Following the public protests regarding various forms of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the consequent disbandment of the unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, there arose the need for stakeholder engagement to build trust and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
“The agitations also brought to the fore, the need to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“The Forum was addressed by the Inspector General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.
“The Forum collectively: welcomed the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; reaffirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest; further affirmed the sanctity of life of every Nigerian and the role of the Police in protecting this right; affirmed that the five-point demands of the protesters and the #EndSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the government.”
Following directives by President Muhammadu Buhari on dissolution of SARS and immediate response to yearnings of Nigerians, Adamu Tuesday replaced the squad with a new team called Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and convened a stakeholders’ meeting.
The meeting, organised by the Office of the Inspector General of Police and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), was a multi-stakeholders’ forum attended by Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, leaders and representatives of civil society organisations in Nigeria, activists from the entertainment industry and the #EndSARS movement and development partners.
According to the communiqué signed by the Inspector General of Police and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, Esq, the Forum noted that the dissolution of SARS presents an opportunity to embark on comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Police Force as a modern, responsive and citizens-centred law enforcement organisation.
“The Forum further notes that the proposed reforms should be anchored under the basis of the White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was jointly authored by the National Human Rights Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Forum affirms that reform proposals for the Nigerian Police Force will be based on Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing legislations such as the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2010 amongst others.
“Following the dissolution of SARS, the Forum calls for the following immediate steps to be taken in restoring public confidence and trust in the Police: an order by the Inspector General of Police to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters; unconditional release of arrested protesters and citizens; open communication and outreach to citizens to establish trust and confidence and a roadmap for the implementation of the White Paper of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the SARS.
“The Forum welcomed the proposal to set up an Independent Investigation Panel to look into the violations of human rights by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Nigerian Police. The Forum agrees to the setting up of this Independent Panel by the National Human Rights Commission within the next one week. An open call for Memoranda from members of the public whose rights have been violated by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Police will be released by the Commission within one week.
“The Forum recommends the psychological evaluation, training and retraining of disbanded SARS officials prior to re-deployment. The Forum resolves to set up the following Technical Sub-Committees to design an implementation roadmap and work plan for the implementation of the White Paper: Training, Capacity and Re-orientation; Logistics: Infrastructure, Communications and Technology; Arrest, Detention, and Investigations; Regulations, Oversight and Accountability and Financing and Partnerships.”
The communiqué stated that sub-Committees would be supported by the National Human Rights Commission and other civil society organisations.
Those who attended the meeting include: Kole Shettima of MAC Arthur Foundation; Innocent Chukwuma of Ford Foundation; Jude Ilo of OSIWA; Segun Awosanya (segalinks) of #EndSARS Movement; Yemi Adamolekun of Enough is Enough; Clément Nwankwo of PLAC; Rafsanjani of CISLAC; Kemi Okonyedo of PWAN; YZ of CITAD; Folarin Falana Falz; Deji Adekunle of NIALS; Chris Ngwodo ( SSA to President Research & Policy); Fatima Waziri (Rule of Law Adviser); and Abdulrahman Yakubu of NHRC Secretariat.
Others are: Hilary Ogbonna of NHRC secretariat; Halilu Adamu of NHRC Secretariat; Ben Aguh of NHRC secretariat; Uju Agomuoh of PRAWA; and Onyinye Ndubuisi of UNDP.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Monday showed class and identified with #EndSARS protesters.
Sanwo-Olu, who declared that he was addressing the demonstrators not just as a governor, but as a father, brother and son, explained that the safety of everyone involved in peaceful protests across Lagos was important.
He added that he’s communicating with Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and other relevant security agencies in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the state.
Sanwo-Olu noted that as a servant of the entire people of Lagos, he would be meeting President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrowvl (October 13) in Abuja.
While identifying with the protesters, the governor said the #EndSARS campaign touched on the essence of democratic freedom, adding that citizens must never be denied the right to protest and their voices heard.
According to him, “I was at the venue of one of the #EndSARS protests today. The safety of everyone involved in peaceful protests across Lagos is important and communicating with the Commissioner of Police, this is what we want to guarantee on all sides.
“Tomorrow, I will be meeting with HE President Muhammed Buhari in Abuja.
“As a servant of the people, my job is to listen and do everything within my power to act while managing the nature of the problems our people are protesting against. I am proud of our youth and the courage they are displaying in articulating their grievances.
“I identify wholeheartedly with the #EndSARS campaign as it touches the essence of democratic freedom.
“Citizens must never be denied the right to protest and your voices have been heard.
“A clear pronouncement has been made and Mr. President has addressed the nation. All SARS officers involved in the killing of innocent people and engaging in the abuse of human rights will be brought to justice.
“My stand on #EndSARS is unmistakable and I assure you that I identify with this protest because your concerns are legitimate. The protest is in good faith but we have to be peaceful and decorous in expressing ourselves.
“I have received the news of casualties at the Surulere protest as well as other developments we are monitoring. We mourn with the families of those who have lost their loved ones.
“Please do not allow your protest be hijacked and used by people with a pre-existing vendetta.
“We must prevent the escalation of issues and I am meeting with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and other security leaders in a few minutes to ensure that live rounds that could lead to further casualties are not used at all as the police looks to maintain peace during the protests.
“I want to appeal to the protesters to take a break from protesting tomorrow. Tempers are at a highest on all sides at this time and while we work to prevent escalation, the safety of our residents is paramount.
“I speak not just as a governor, but as a father, brother and son.”
Nigeria's Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba
Union Laments Lack of Support to Meet Covid-19 protocols for resumption – ASUP
A meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, and executive members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) held on Tuesday, in Abuja, to further discuss the disputes of the union, which could lead to another nationwide strike within the Education sector.
At the meeting, which was a move to avert an impending strike by ASUP, the union’s President, Anderson Ezeibe, restated their long-standing grievances, which predate even Covid-19.
Against the announcement by the Federal Government directing schools to reopen for academic activities after Covid-19 lockdown, Ezeibe argued that polytechnics in the country were not ready to resume normal academic activities.
The ASUP helsman cited not having most of the protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 in place as a reason.
According to him, beyond the sentiments of announcing that all institutions resume, the Polytechnics lacked support to enforce resumption protocols, to which Nwajiuba appealed to public-spirited individuals in communities where these institutions are located to come to their aid.
Furthermore, Ezeibe did not mince words when he said ASUP members are deeply regretting their decision to enroll for the IPPIS. This he said was because the policy had been characterized with the omission of bonafide staff names, non-remittance of check-off dues, including closing the windows to effect corrections where necessary.
One of the issues raised was the NEEDS Assessment carried out in all public Polytechnics, which was yet to be implemented as no single institution had benefitted from the exercise.
Part of the dispute is the victimization of members over their participation in previous industrial actions, saying five staff of Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Enugu, including two staff of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State have been dismissed without tangible reasons.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has on Tuesday approved the five-point, otherwise known as 5for5 demand of youths who have been protesting extortion, extra-judicial killings and brutality perpetrated by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), especiay it’s notoriously perceived tactical unit, the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
The approval was made known by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Presidential panel on police reforms swings into action, plays 5-point demand of protesters.
Adesina said the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad has approved the five-point demands put forward by youths that have been protesting across the country.
He said following directives by President Muhammadu Buhari, on the dissolution of SARS, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, convened a meeting with stakeholders, agreeing to meet demands.
He said the demands acceded to included halting use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested citizens.
According to the presidential spokesman, the meeting, organised by the Office of the Inspector General of Police and National Human Rights Commission, was a multi-stakeholders’ forum attended by leaders and representatives of civil society organisations in Nigeria, activists from the entertainment industry and the #EndSARS movement and development partners.
He said the Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission were also present at the meeting that affirmed that the five-point demands of the protesters and the #EndSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the government.
He quoted a communiqué of the meeting signed by the IGP and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, as, “Following the public protests regarding various forms of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the consequent disbandment of the unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, there arose the need for stakeholder engagement to build trust and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
“The agitations also brought to the fore, the need to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
“The Forum was addressed by the Inspector General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.
“The Forum collectively: welcomed the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; reaffirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest; further affirmed the sanctity of life of every Nigerian and the role of the Police in protecting this right; affirms that the five-point demands of the protesters and the ENDSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the government.’’
Adesina added that the forum noted that the dissolution of SARS presents an opportunity to embark on comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Police Force as a modern, responsive and citizens-centred law enforcement organisation.
From the statement of the inspector general of police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, SARS will come back very soon in another name. Meaning there will be a change in nomenclature, but police extortion and brutality remain intact; because it serves many purposes for the system or the state/government, police force and police officers. For the government, the specialized branch is the evidence that it is working against violent crimes. For the police force and its officers, it is a means to an end of gaining wealth through extortion of both criminals and innocent citizens. As usual, it appears the #EndSARS won the battle, but the state and the police won the war. Aluta continua!
The justification for the forerunner of SARS, SARS and successor of SARS will remain the need to arrest the unending occurrence of violent crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, ritual killings, etc in the country. There’s always a need for a special or specialized branch of the police force for this endemic crisis. Each time, the specialized branch ends up becoming an organized crime on its own, albeit, a legal one, armed by the state to rob and maim the innocent populace.
The root of the crimes that necessitates the specialized branch is the same. Their root is poverty, resulting from unemployment, mismanagement and corruption by government, the political class and the civil servants. Mismanagement and corruption that take the lead in engendering unemployment and crimes are products of how the state organizes primarily the economic and the ensuing political systems.
The vicious cycle runs thus: the people are poor because they don’t have jobs or sustainable means of livelihood. They don’t have jobs, not because they don’t want to work but because, government, the policy maker hasn’t put forward policies or framework that lead to jobs being created by the appropriate job creators, namely, firms and households. The economic activities of households and firms, through effective government policies lead to employment of resources, including that of labour.
In Nigeria, the government has remained derelict in its duty of fashioning appropriate policy. At the same time over the years, its officials are busy helping themselves with the resources of state that are supposed to support policies in actualizing prosperity for all. We thus have double jeopardy of government dereliction of duty and corruption aiding and abetting unemployment and crimes by criminals, police, customs, immigration, military and paramilitary.
Meanwhile, Nigerians are made to carry all the yokes of both criminals and state agents as criminals. Armed robbers, kidnappers, ritual killers and spiritual robbers and the state agents concurrently attack, steal and destroy Nigerians mercilessly.
A Third Jeopardy arises to Nigerians whenever they revolt against the unholy alliance and oppression by criminals and state criminals. They are killed by the police, representing the state to put down the revolt. But the reality in this case is, the police is both defending the derelict government and their loots and means of continuous stealing from the people they are supposed to be protecting.
Poverty, emanating from unemployment has a link to crime. The response of the state to crime is law and order. But law and order isn’t the direct solution to crime resulting from unemployment. Unemployment and poverty are economic problems and their solution is also in the realm of economics, not law and order. While law and order is necessary for economic activities to take place unhindered, it can only accompany or subordinate to the primacy of economic solution.
The issues of safety from criminals and extortionist SARS men and women and state agents generally are far beyond SARS. The inspector general of police has already informed that SARS will be back in another name. Its mission and operations, which is to kill, steal and destroy will remain the same. As long as Nigeria remains a unitary state with a derelict government and with a police force that sees extortion of the citizens as a way to make up economically and financially, SARS and its successor will remain a terror to Nigerians.
The issues and the resolution of the oppression against the people of Nigeria from unemployment, poverty, crimes and state agents extortion and exploitation are in the realms of economics and the dissolution of the unitary constitution foisted on Nigeria by the oligarchs. Nigeria is naturally a federal state by circumstances and history, that should allow the federating units to pursue their independent economic and security philosophies and arrangements. Inherent in their independence will be the economic and security architecture that suits them.
Economic well-being of citizen is number one security enhancer. A situation where the federating units are incapacitated from deciding the economic direction of their states because of the unitary constitution and the falsehood that the oil resources are sufficient to take care of everybody undermines the ability of the states to ensure economic prosperity as insurance against poverty and crimes.
For obvious selfish reasons, while majority of Nigerians are daily stridently calling for true federalism and restructuring (TFR) the ruling oligarchs continue to turn deaf ears to it and use the state machinery to vilify whoever advocates for it. The government is definitely not correctly reading the hands of history and reality. Because it’s not heeding the call for true federalism and restructuring, secessionist agitations are metamorphosing in IPOB’s Biafra and Oduduwa republics agitations. The protagonists of Biafra and Oduduwa republics aren’t necessarily calling for the dissolution of Nigeria. They are only giving a counsel that’s akin to the elders’ counsel to king Rehoboam of old Judah kingdom as against the counsel of his benefiting friends. If the oligarchs stick to their gun, then we shall definitely experience a ‘to your tent O Nigerians’.
#EndSARS is good, but it’s not an end. It’s one of the means to the end. It is obvious that the current ruling oligarchs are deaf and obstinate to the cry of Nigerians for independence from poverty, crimes and injustices. It is important for #EndSARS to continue and align with the real movement for true federalism and restructuring; a movement that will bring about structures that will address the recurring problems of SARS and its successor.
As the inspector general of police promised, a successor of SARS will soon be named with some cosmetic and window dressing. But the motives and operations will remain the same. It does seem imperative that while we are at it now, #EndSARS’ should dovetail into the real agenda for the freedom of Nigeria from poverty, unemployment, crimes and police brutality and exploitation occasioned by the unitary constitution. The unitary constitution is the culprit and the people who are refusing to yield to the demand that it must be dismantled are culpable of heinous crimes against Nigerians.
#EndSARS mustn’t be deceived into the euphoria that it has won anything, not even the battle by the promised dissolution of SARS in all states and Abuja. The IGP is very clear that a successor is coming. Nothing is going to change for good. Only a restructuring of Nigeria that gives independence to the federating units will bring about positive development to Nigeria in terms of economic growth and security of life and properties. The IGP doesn’t have authority to initiate that. Only president Buhari can set the ball rolling in the direction of TFR, as he has been inundated with calls from nationalities, groups and eminent Nigerians.
Sanmi Obasa is a research analyst, he teaches business studies at Centennial College, Toronto.
File Photo: President Buhari receives in audience Former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in State House on 12th Oct 2020
President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja assured Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the country will explore every opportunity and deploy its entire energy to ensure that she becomes the Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), presidency spokesman, Garba Shehu, said in a statement.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala is one of two candidates contesting for the top position of the multilateral institution.
President Buhari, who received the former Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank at the Presidential Villa, said she deserved more support to get the top job because of her profile and diligence in serving the country, and the world.
President Buhari receives in audience Former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in State House on 12th Oct 2020
“I assure you that we will do all that we can to ensure that you emerge as the Director-General of WTO, not only because you are a Nigerian, but because you are a hardworking Nigerian. You deserve this,’’ he added.
The President assured Dr Okonjo-Iweala that he will make more phone calls, and send letters to some world leaders for more support.
“I did the same for Dr Akinwunmi Adesina for President of the African Development Bank. Both of you served the country under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). You are both highly qualified. We will continue to support you. I will immediately make those calls,’’ the President told Dr Okonjo-Iweala.
In her remarks, Dr Okonjo-Iweala, a renowned development economist, thanked the President and his ministers, particularly the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment for supporting her staunchly.
President Buhari receives in audience Former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in State House on 12th Oct 2020
“I feel very proud of Nigeria. I am getting so much support from you, Mr President, Chief of Staff, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investments. The ministers have been working around the clock to ensure that I succeed,’’ she said.
The former Minister of Finance also appreciated ECOWAS leaders for their endorsement, mentioning in particular the outstanding contributions of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic and immediate past Chairman of ECOWAS as well as President Alhassan Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire.
She asked the President to “make one final push within the week to beat the Koreans and bring this to Nigeria by sending a few letters and placing telephone calls to some world leaders, and also thank others for their support.’’
“Mr President, put a smile on my face,’’ she said, “I am very proud of the country.’’
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