ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
  • The Sun Foundation
No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
  • The Sun Foundation
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Opinion

Southwest security and our governors’ dilemma

8th July 2019
in Opinion
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Abiodun Komolafe

Osun Economic and Investment Summit is reportedly put on hold! Earlier scheduled to take place between 25th and 27th, June 2019, reports had it that the postponement was not unconnected with the security situation across the country from which Osun State is not isolated. If this is the true position, then, the decision was a buck well spent.

Without being immodest, the Southwest as a bloc is in need of programmes and policies that can help it recalibrate its socioeconomic consciousness.But can there be economic prosperity in the face of diverse development challenges on the socio-political-cum-economic front?So,  needless to repeat that the just-concluded SouthwestSecurity Summit, organised to “sustain the status of” the region “as the safest to live, invest and recreate”, was timely.

In their separateaddresseson the occasion, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State advocated state police in “policing lapses in the country”while Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State urged his counterparts to “invest heavily in technologyto be ahead and win the war” because “security wars are fought and won on the altars of intelligence gathering, planning and implementation.”

Well, it is no longer news that security is a current issue that has become relevant globally. The presence of it brings about prosperity while the absence of it leads to general social instability! Even in its narrowest sense, investments are secured only when the people feel secured. For us in the Southwest, insecurity has for some time become the greatest geopolitical threat and it is as if the powers-that-be are caught napping.

Basically, growing population amidst hemorrhaging economy, high rate of unemployment, poor, or decaying infrastructure, and unholy alliances between poor budgeting and implementation are some of the hindrances facing security in this part of the country. Besides, bad governance, influx of light arms from neighbouring countries, porous borders, coupled with our politicians’ ‘use-of-thugs-and-dump’attitude have also been seen to be responsible fora climate of fear and insecurity. Others are unprofessional conducts that are capable of tampering with intelligence, lack of 21st century-compliant equipment, poor selection process and training, poor salary and motivation, and lack of intra- and inter-agency collaborations among those that are statutorily saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property in the region.

Indeed, Nigerians expect President Muhammadu Buhari to proactively degrade this sense of shame that is currently troubling our Israel before he returns to Daura with his “reputation of integrity” in 2023.But then, history has shown without fail that the Southwest is one region whose rich heritage can’t be blackmailed or contaminated with illegitimate steps. Owu war (1820-1827), Ijayerevolt (1860-1865), Kiriji conflict (1877-1893), OgunAdubi (1918), Operation Wetie (1962), Agbekoyauprising (1968-1969), even the violent protests which attended the outcomes of the 1983 elections, have presented the region as a no-nonsense zone when it comes to the protection of lives and property of its people.

Let it be known tothe  invadersthat, if Gani Adams wants to live true to his office as AareOnaKakanfo, it is possible to invoke the primordial powers to come to the rescue of Yorubaland; but that may not augur well for a society as modern as ours. Why did I say so? The geographical spread of the Southwest is not one where hoodlums cannot be fingered and flushed out because there are no abandoned or uninhabited lands in the whole region. Even, the hills belong to somebody! So, whoever doubts the powers of these ancient gods to act when their help is sought may end up blaming himself. It is therefore time the president woke up from his classic castle-in-the-skymode and does something before this crisis snowballs into warsthat are capable of consuming the entire country. Take it or leave it: if there is peace in the Southwest, there will be peace in Nigeria. It is as simple as that!

The ‘DAWN Strategy Roadmap’ urges “the Southwest people” to “use the current national situation … as an opportunity to raise awareness and enlarge surveillance capacity”, based on “local knowledge and community ownership.” While I have no problems with State or Community Policing as a way out of this crisis, can this prescription be a‘cure-all’,indigenous strategy and how do we define its selection process and ‘rules of engagement’, especially, in a deeply confusing clime that recklessly places personal benefices above communal togetherness? Won’t its broth detect the fragranceof  the  frustration  and  ‘order-from-above’that corrupted similar efforts in the past? Can restructuring do the trick of tenderness and the freedom of healing in this interesting microcosm, where ethnic and political divisions are deep; and where life is with each passing day becoming cheap? Above all, how far can the creation of vigilance groupsgo asa remedyfor insecurity in our region?

As Fayemi remarked at the event, “all criminal activities are heavy but they are not insurmountable.”To get out of this security mess therefore, the welfare of the officers and men who  are putting their lives on the line to secure the lives and property of Nigerians must be prioritized while legislations which prescribe stiffer penalties for perpetrators of, and willing collaborators in crimemustbe put in place and seento be effectively operational.While not sparing social media users with bad intentions, activities of fifth columnists and disgruntled politicians who are criminally bent on rubbishing the government because it is being led by a Fulani man should also be looked into. The possibility of the so-called bandits being active members of the Boko Haram on a mission to source funds from the Southwest for its activities in the North East is another angle that must be interrogated.

If resources also permit, investments in technology to determine who rules us as well as the establishment of Security or Traffic Radio to give information on the security situations in the region will go a long way in curbing the menace of insecurity. Lastly, benefits of installation of massive hidden security cameras (CCTVs) in strategic places across the Southwest are also enormous.

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in the Southwest!

Komolafe writes  from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State

Rapheal

Rapheal

Related Posts

The economy and social investment programme
Columns

 Scarcity of the new naira notes

3rd February 2023
Opinion

The ‘Eníkànlómòs’ and 2023 general election

3rd February 2023
Opinion

Obi and soldiers of conscience

2nd February 2023
Next Post
Ruga: Southern, Middle Belt leaders allege plot to amend Land Use Act

Ruga settlements: Lesson from Edo private ranches

PSC sends 400 to monitor police conduct during election

The case for state police

I started transportation business at 21 with my father’s Peugeot 404 car –GU Okeke, Chairman, GUO Motors

I started transportation business at 21 with my father’s Peugeot 404 car –GU Okeke, Chairman, GUO Motors

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Highlights

Quadri, Bello retain positions in world rankings

Flying Eagles tackle Junior Chipolopolo in Abuja

NFF lectures clubs on new CAF Club Licensing System, stadium regulations

Usman tipped to avenge loss against Edwards

Serena Williams hints at acting career after retirement

2023 CCC tourney delights Ikeja Golf Club Captain

Trending

NFF pays Super Falcons Nations Cup bonuses after 7 months
Sporting Sun

NFF pays Super Falcons Nations Cup bonuses after 7 months

3rd February 2023
0

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has paid the accumulated match bonuses of the nine-time African champions, Super...

Osimhen wins Serie A GOTM award 

Osimhen wins Serie A GOTM award 

3rd February 2023
Eagles’ job: Onigbinde, Bosso disagree on Yobo

U20 AFCON: Bosso names three foreign-based stars in provisional list 

3rd February 2023
Quadri ready to gun for top honour at Budapest

Quadri, Bello retain positions in world rankings

3rd February 2023
WAFU B Championship: Flying Eagles seal semifinal place

Flying Eagles tackle Junior Chipolopolo in Abuja

3rd February 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • NFF pays Super Falcons Nations Cup bonuses after 7 months
  • Osimhen wins Serie A GOTM award 
  • U20 AFCON: Bosso names three foreign-based stars in provisional list 
  • Quadri, Bello retain positions in world rankings
  • Flying Eagles tackle Junior Chipolopolo in Abuja
  • NFF lectures clubs on new CAF Club Licensing System, stadium regulations
  • Usman tipped to avenge loss against Edwards
  • Serena Williams hints at acting career after retirement
  • 2023 CCC tourney delights Ikeja Golf Club Captain
  • My songs portray my life stories –Pony Tailah
  • How Tobiloba Titiloye won Artsforchange talent contest 
  • Ooni makes acting debut in Hollywood movie, Take Me Home
  • Welcome to Rwanda: Love tale of two cities
  • AGN’s health week kicks off Feb 11
  • Abia North: Ohafia wards embrace Kalu, say he’s most trusted candidate
  • 2 dead, 50 trapped in Abuja collapsed building
  • Nigeria Decides 2023: Fifth columnists want to destroy Nigeria –El-Rufai
  • Nigeria Decides 2023: APC’s many challenges in North
  • Nigeria Decides 2023: Why insecurity persists in Imo–Emeana, State secretary of PDP
  • Abia: 3 jostle for vacant PDP guber position

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Anambra Watch
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • Change of Name
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
  • The Sun Foundation

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.