Essay
By Mike Ozekhome
INTRODUCTION
IN the last two weeks, we have discussed Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s 7 days quit notice to Fulani herders in Ondo State, based on some of the herder’s criminal activities. I have delved into the legal and constitutional aspects of the ruckus. Today, we shall conclude this volatile issue by looking at the presidency’s reaction, some identified problems surrounding insecurity and my humble recommendations.
WAS THE PRESIDENCY RIGHT IN ITS REACTION TO AKEREDOLU QUIT NOTICE?
The Presidency in my view was right to have been gravely worried about the Governor’s 7 day quit notice, as thiswould infringe on the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens, without a valid court order to that effect. A courtorder, I repeat, is necessary. We must carefully guide against ethno-religious profiling and reprisals in our volatile, mutually suspicious country of serious religious and ethnic fault-lines. By the way, why will Governors abdicate their solemn duties of protecting their people through short cuts? What stops Governor Akeredolu and other South West Governors from deploying their local vigilante groups, AMOTEKUN, to flush out identified criminals and prosecute them? What are they paid for? Why use the crimes of some (whether in the minority or majority), to deal with all herdsmen, including the innocent ones? I don’t agree with this generalization, even if my view is unpopular. Afterall, I am not in any popularity contest with anyone. Deal squarely with criminals. Let the innocent be.
HOW BEST STATES CAN TACKLE THIS ISSUE OF INSECURITY
SOME IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS
– Bad governance and poor leadership
Bad governance and poor leadership still remain Nigeria’s fundamental cause of insecurity. All governments owe us is to see to its primary function as providing basic services and infrastructure – security, welfare, water, electricity, good roads, and quality education.
– Overpopulation
Nigeria’s population leapt from 33 million in 1950, to over 208 million today [UNO, mid-June, 2020]. This phenomenal population growth puts enormous pressure on land and water resources used by farmers and pastoralists. This leads to blockage of transhumance routes and loss of grazing lands. The increased Southward movement of pastoralists has led to recurring conflicts with local communities, who are at the receiving end.
– Porous Borders
A major cause of our insecurity is the country’s porous borders, where individual movements are largely untracked. Small arms and light weapons proliferate. This enables militant and criminal groups have unhindered access to arms. Nigeria estimatedly hosts over 70 percent of about 8 million illegal weapons in West Africa. This porosity has also increased ceaseless influx of migrants from neighbouring countries, such as Niger Republic, Chad and Benin Republic. These migrants (mostly young men) constitute the perpetrators of major crimes in the country.
– Rural /Urban Drift
The migration of jobless youths from rural areas to urban centres is a major cause of insecurity in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the countries in the world with very high rural/urban drift.
– Lack of social responsibility of companies
Companies are supposed to engage in corporate social responsibility. The rise of terror groups in some parts of the country is directly related to the abysmal neglect of social responsibility by companies to communities wherein they operate. The ceaseless Niger Delta crisis is an example.
– Acts of Terrorism
Acts of terrorism fundamentally cause insecurity. Terrorism has been squarely located in religious and ethnic fanaticism and intolerance. There is always fear, destruction and death, especially against unarmed targets, property and infrastructure in states.
RECOMMENDED PANACEA
- Establishment of Grazing Reserves – Establishment of permanent grazing reserves provides the opportunity for practising limited form of pastoralism, and pathfinds better animal husbandry. Nigeria has a total of 417 grazing reserves out of which only about 113 have been gazetted. It is clear that pastoralism, at least in the short and medium term, may help to prevent seasonal migration of herders from dry to wet grazing areas.
- Law and Policy – There is an emerging conflict between the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of movement of persons and goods, and laws emerging in some States which restrict movement. Some States have, rightfully, enacted laws (or are processing bills) to prevent open grazing on their territory. Examples are Benue, Ekiti, Taraba and Edo States. Such laws may help to stem nomadic pastoralism (practised by millions of Nigerians), especially of the Fulani stock.
- Community Policingshould be established across states of Nigeria, for effective management of insecurity. Nigeria’s behemoth Police Force (sections 214, 215 and 216 of the 1999 Constitution) should be dismantled in favour of states, LGAs and community policing.
- There is an urgent need (for business and industrial growth), to create an enabling economicenvironment that allows for social, security, economic and physical infrastructure.
- Creation of job opportunitiesfor the teeming youth is a sine qua non to prevent rising crime.
- To enthrone a better electoral system, adequate punishment, (e.g. barring for life), for politicians who deploy thugs for politics, should be encouraged.
- There must be good governance, transparency and accountability.
- Security systemsmust be strengthened
Insecurity is bred by a number of factors, including corruption, inadequate funding of the Police (and other security agencies), lack of modern equipment, poor welfare of security personnel, and inadequate personnel. We need to improve our security architecture through training and retraining of security officers in modern security methodologies, state-of-the-art equipment and appropriate remuneration, good service conditions, and a convenient pension scheme. Modern methods of intelligence gathering and sharing, training, logistics, motivation, and deployment of advanced technology in managing security challenges should be introduced immediately.
- Poverty reduction is a must. A realistic social security programme must be vigorously pursued and implemented, to help the teeming populace.
- There should be mutual trust, respect and accommodation by all ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria. No section should claim superiority over others, whom they unfortunately regard as vassals. (Concluded).
– Feb. 09, 2021 @ 18:57 GMT
Tags: The constitutionality or otherwise of Governor Akeredolu’s 7-Day quit order on Herdsmen in Ondo (Part 3)
