THE POLITICS OF INSECURITY AND
POLITICAL SECURITY
By Kay Aderibigbe
The level of security in Nigeria, especially, in the North
East today is in a total state of gamble because over a period of time now the
Nigerian state cannot comprehend the sadistic and heinous intent behind the
unreasonable maiming and bombing of innocent Nigerians, even, in sacred places
like churches and mosques. Invariably, we cannot pin point categorically, if
the aim of the terrorists is to Islamize the country; or to destabilize the
dispensation of Jonathan as espoused by some; or to just put an end to the
continuity of Nigeria as one united country.
Politics of insecurity encompasses all the antics, plots,
neglects and dramas that were schemed by the federal government and those
Northern Governors who are privy to classified information in order that the
spate of violence and barbaric acts that constituted security threats would
seemed more or less of a natural disaster that needed time and resources to be
apprehended. Whereas, the refraction of events point directly to cluster of
intentional dispositions calculated at disguising the true colour of political
stake holders.
One of such methods revolves around the budgetary
allocation for security. The fund, over time has remain unused, unaccounted
for, untraceable and to a large extent indefinitely starched in the pockets of
those that are always directly credited through the Federation Account (Mr.
president, State Governors, Reps and Senators). Whosoever speak about such
misappropriation is rather ignored or taken aback; that was why I referred us
to a question asked on the death of Andrew Owoye Azazi, the former NSA in my
last article.
Another dimension of politics of insecurity is also the
issue of negligence on the part of federal government. A political approach at
handling terrorism by Jonathan's government simply proved so naive, inefficient
and not targeted at the problem itself but some individuals that could likely be
paraded as enemies of the state. This did not only gave the insurgents free
hand to operate but enough ground to metamorphose and spread their tentacles
until they attracted international attention.
Also part of the politics of insecurity played by all the
parties involved in taking custody of safety and wellbeing of our people in
this country is the problem of political disagreement and non-respecter of
opposition’s view. According to
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, he puts forward that “the fact in
all these things is that, three years ago, I was repeatedly telling them that
before long, that this is not a minor problem, that if it is not handled with
tact and care, it is capable of metamorphosing into a conflagration that might
consume the whole north. But the Federal Government was deaf, dumb and blind to
the reality….
A part of this problem was the military redtapism in Borno state
that resulted in the death of some soldiers ; they protested the death of their
colleagues and they are now termed ‘mutineers’ . As such, social commentators
and even, certain section of the military rank and file believed in the
indulgence of Boko Haram by the Nigerian Military. What an irony, the night
watch dinning with the robbers! In fact, there is even a case of protracted
accusations and counter accusations now that some elites believed that
negotiation would do more to bring back the girls despite that foreign allies
are bent on a non-negotiating method.
A general overview of my assessment of how insecurity
situation has been politicized stems from the fact that federal government has
failed woefully in its initial efforts at curbing the activities of terrorists
by imposing a haphazard or half-hearted state of emergency in three North
Eastern states i.e. Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. This was probably because: one,
Jonathan doesn't want to be castigated for suspending a democratic institution;
two, he wanted badly the support of North East in 2015; and lastly, he does not
want to call for too much money from the already coveted security vote.
According to section 305(3)(d) of the 1999 constitution, it was stated clearly,
that, the president shall have power to issue a proclamation of state of
emergency when:
(d) there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public
order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof requiring
extraordinary measures to avert such danger.
The
situation in those places, even, in Abuja, fits so acutely into the definition
above because people die randomly at any moment while the government plays
politics.
Federal
government is at it again. The National Assembly have given thumbs up to
emergency rule in the affected states to continue for the next six months. Here
are the implications: one, the security situation remains the same because only
a full-blown emergency rule will charge military to the core; two, the affected
states elites would feel marginalized in their mental faculties because the
state of democratic rejuvenation will be porous (elections may probably not
hold); three, the mere fact that the Governors under emergency rule are
circumstantially incapacitated, they will not and never be accountable; four,
there will be a conflict of command structure between the military oligarchy
and the elected regime just like it is happening in Borno now; five, we may
face the possibility of suspense of political terror because more sabotage
would ensue from elites that have nothing at stake in 2015. We must not forget
according to Obahiagbon, “2015 is the 'fronset origo' of the crises befalling
the Nigerian state since 2011”.
To be
continued.........
