OKOGIE EXPRESSES FEARS OF NIGERIANS ENTRUSTING THEIR SECURITY IN BUHARI’S GOVT
CATHOLIC Archbishop Emeritus of
Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has expressed fears of Nigerians entrusting
their security in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Okogie in a nine-paragraph letter
he personally signed, yesterday, said his fears were founded in the President’s
admittance that he didn’t know that the Inspector of Police, Ibrahim, Idris,
flouted his order to remain in Benue in the wake of the new year day killing by
herdsmen that claimed 73 lives.
He said: “In Nigeria’s security
architecture, the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
appoints and oversees all service chiefs, including the Inspector-General of
Police. They take orders from him. He assures us that he receives regular
security briefings. But he has just made a candid admission that he is not in
control of his service chiefs.
“He ordered the Inspector-General
to relocate to Benue State in January. He admitted in March that he did not
know the order was flouted. Does the Inspector General of Police brief the
President? Will the President fire him? Is it wise for Nigerians to count on
this government for their security?
“In affront to his person and
office, his order was flouted, there were killings in Plateau State during his
visit, and more killings in Taraba, Benue and Kogi states. Boko Haram, said by
the President’s spokesmen to be degraded and technically defeated, abducted 110
schoolgirls in Yobe State. Are the service chiefs still taking orders? Is the
President still in control of security?
“Instead of declaring the
murderous herdsmen a terrorist organisation, the President offers pious
exhortation to their victims to love their neighbours. His party and the ruling
party of yesterday score cheap political points, comparing notes on levels of
incompetence and gravity of negligence in security matters displayed by their
respective governments.
“The ruling party of today claims
its government acted faster in Dapchi than the government of the ruling party
of yesterday in Chibok. Both gloss over a disturbing question: where were our
security operatives when our innocent daughters were abducted first in Chibok,
and then, in Dapchi?”
“Our security is not only
threatened by herdsmen. It is also threatened by the incompetence of our
leaders, their conduct or misconduct, their greedy unethical glorification of
perks of office.
If, as one senator recently said,
each senator receives 13.5 million naira per month as running cost, added to
720, 000-naira monthly salary, then our security is threatened. Interestingly,
the Senate has not contradicted what this senator said. The senator himself has
not told Nigerians if he too had been receiving this huge amount. “A senator
should be able to do his work with half that amount, even with less. So, one
may want to divide what Nigeria spends annually on her senators by two. The
result would be 9, 299, 880, 000 naira. If that were divided by the number of
universities in this country which is 175, the result would be 53, 142, 171
naira. Give that to each university for its library. It will drastically
improve the quality of education in this country.
“But the scandal is not just the
amount we spend on our senators. Nigeria spends so much on government. Yet,
there is little or no governance. We spend so much maintaining the President,
36 Governors, close to 50 Ministers, members of a bicameral National Assembly,
and members of 36 state houses of assembly, advisers and special advisers,
assistants and senior personal assistants.
It is a security risk to spend so
much on political office holders that Nigeria does not need while our education
sector is in decay. “Education is the acquisition of wealth for human
development, the assurance of prosperity and security in the land. Half of the
huge amount of money devoted to servicing political office holders in Nigeria
can be spent on education. That will vastly improve our prospects for
prosperity and security. To do otherwise is to sentence this country to a
future of unending poverty and insecurity. That Nigeria invests more in her
recycled politicians than in her youths is a breach of security that mortgages
her future.
“But education is not the only
neglected sector in this country. Uninterrupted electricity remains a fleeting
illusion. That certainly affects security. It affects the economy too. Without
electricity, this country cannot grow her economy. Nigerians hear of economic
recovery. ‘’But it is not felt in their pockets. Many are dying of hunger.
Salaries are not paid. School fees cannot be paid. Parents withdraw children
from school. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s politicians, paid huge sums of money, throw
lavish wedding parties, at a time of heightened insecurity, and the President
and Vice President lead the guests.
“Lust for perks of office has
made elections into public offices in Nigeria a security concern. Machiavellian
politics has become the most lucrative business. Nigerians must reflect on
these questions before voting next year: when shall we have a government and
Commander-in-Chief that truly protect us?
‘’Will there ever be conversion
of hearts among Nigeria’s politicians? When will Nigerian political office
holders begin to serve those whose votes put them in office? Can it be said
that this narrative of negligence, incompetence, greed and insecurity is a
prelude to 2019? We are watching and waiting.’’
-Vanguard
No comments
Post a Comment