Insecurity: ‘Chief Security Officers’ as ‘Mourners-in-Chief’ of their people

IN the face of the total collapse of security in Nigeria, several members of the ruling political elite appear to be dazed, confused and befuddled. Right from the pinnacle of the Presidency, down to the governors’ mansions across the 36 states, to the local government chairmen, the political elite have been running from pillar to post, with no effective ideas to stem the tide of insecurity.

Unlike other aspects of governance, which can easily be papered over with propagandist claims of achievements, the presence of or absence of security is always self-evident. As such, it is not an aspect of governance where the political elites can play the usual trick of hoodwinking or pulling the wool over the eyes of citizens. For the first time too, it appears the men who wield political power in Nigeria are truly worried. 

From the rising wave of insecurity, the political elites can clearly see that with the current climate of violent criminality, even they with all the protection, are not really safe. For instance, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom a few weeks ago regaled the nation with the story of how he had to run for several kilometers to escape from unknown assailants who were apparently trying to harm him. Similarly, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma’s country home was attacked and vandalised by elements described as unknown gunmen. In both cases, the governors affected could only report the matter to President Muhammadu Buhari, who himself appears to be oblivious of the way out of the current security quagmire Nigeria is facing.  

As a result of the monstrous effect of insecurity, the political elites and other participants in the project of nation building have therefore been forced to reflect on their roles and responsibilities. For ordinary citizens, the refrain is to call for divine help from heaven above, while hoping and praying not to have any untoward experience in the hands of the outlaws terrorising the country. With the heightened criminal activities of terrorists, bandits and other assortment of violent criminals, there is lamentation all over the land that Nigeria has never had it so bad. 

Across social media and other platforms of expressions, Nigerians are voicing their frustration and fears about wave of criminality, and the corresponding helpless of those controlling the levers of state power. As things stand, hundreds of thousands of citizens across the country have been forced to flee from their homes. Farming communities in many parts of the country have been forced to evacuate because of the unending wave of criminality and unchallenged attacks. Never before have Nigerians lived in the kind of absolute fear, which now pervades the entire country. The situation is so pathetic that simple road travels of a few hours which used to be taken for granted have become very risky ventures on account of the nefarious activities of kidnappers on the highways. 

For governors in the states deeply ravaged by insecurity, it is a case of double jeopardy. Most of them have had to helplessly watch as criminals swoop into their domain to freely kill people before retreating. As citizens in the states count their loses, their first point of call is the office of the governor. With no effective powers to command the police to respond to serious security situations, the many of the affected governors have been reduced to chief mourners, who preside over funerals where scores of their citizens who have been killed are simply interred. While states in the South West have set up a security network known as the Amotekun corps, the operational capacities remain rudimentary.

For those governors who have no security network to fall back on, their only option has been to vent their frustration on federal authorities, while lamenting the lack of timely response to clear security threats.

Recently, governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State revealed that Boko Haram terrorists had overrun communities in Kaure and Shiroro Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State. The governor complained about how he tried to engage the federal authorities to address the situation to no avail. Governor Bello went on to paint an unflattering picture of the security situation, including that the terrorists had hoisted their flag and had displaced not less than three thousand people.

On his part, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike who belongs to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been quick to slam his counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for being quick to rush to Abuja for photo opportunities with the President, instead of doing their bit to address the insecurity in their domain. 

In the end, even other governors who have not directly criticised the President have made statements, which imply that the federal authorities are seriously floundering as far as restoring security is concerned. Notwithstanding their partisan affiliation, governors across the country seem to be on the same page that the failure of the Buhari government to secure the country and protect Nigerians from elements challenging the authority of the state poses grave danger for the future of the country.

The inability of the government to secure the country undermines the express provisions of Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. This particular section makes it clear that the “security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” As it stands, the government appears to have lost that purpose, and the people are paying dearly for it.