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Without Adequate Security, Nigeria Can’t Have Rapid Development-Chief Kenny Martins

Published

3 years ago

March 27, 2021

Editor

By Michael Effiong

Governments at all levels in Nigeria have been enjoined to take the security of lives and property seriously in order to ensure that the country reach its desired growth potentials.

The advice was given by Security expert and former National Co-ordinator, Police Equipment Foundation, Dr Kenny Martins while delivering a paper on the topic “Security Challenge and Implication on National Development as guest speaker at the 4th Annual Lecture of Integrity Reporters Newspapers at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

Dr. Martins who took his audience through his own personal peace building interventions across the country including in Edo and Rivers State, stated that the present government has to do more because citizens have been doing their bit, noting that rapid development would be a mirage if the present state of insecurity persists.

Michael Effiong James, representative of Chairman of the occasion, Bashorun Dele Momodu delivering his remarks

According to him “Everyday, we are lectured that security is a collective responsibility. We are doing our bit; using tall fences and barbed wires to demarcate our houses, paying trillions of naira every year to hire security devices to protect our business, residential premises and estates. We also pay our taxes to maintain our three tiers of government, their elaborate security services and the Armed Forces. We therefore expect governments at all levels to play their part as well, in ensuring the security of lives and property in the country.

He noted that the lack of security in the country has far reaching implications on national development and he highlighted them as follows: loss of lives and properties, negative effect on the economy, rural-urban migration, rise in crime rate, wasted years (youths are forced into IDP camps or streets), loss of foreign investors, destruction of national institutions, large allocations for purchase of security and war equipment.

Michael Effiong James, Barr. Oguntimehin and Dr Kenny Martins at the launch of the special edition of Integrity Newspaper

He concluded that while we cannot completely avert all crises, especially those that arise from natural events like flooding, we should do our best to avoid activities that could lead to crises.

In his words “The organisation like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) should be empowered and trained to take over the management of the big crisis situations in the same way as the National Guard in the United States, to allow the police concentrate on their core duties of prevention, detection and prosecution of crimes and minor fracas while the military should concentrate on defending the country against external aggression.

Adding that it is not enough to merely borrow the US presidential system but we should replicate some of the institutions that they have used to sustain their democracy. Dr Martins then rounded off thus “Crisis is an ill wind that blows nobody any good, the earlier we get that, the better for everybody.

In his comments, Chairman of the occasion, The Boss Publisher, Bashorun Dele Momodu, who was represented by Editor, Ovation International, Mr Michael Effiong James noted that without security there can be no progress. He noted that the issue of security has become this bad because of the lack of leadership and direction from the government, especially the federal government.

He urged Nigerians who are unhappy with the current situation to express their discontent with their votes, adding that it has become a vicious circle to blame the government while the people are themselves to be blamed for voting for an inefficient and unfeeling government.

He then thanked the management of Integrity Newspaper for organising the lecture series which he noted would help to bring attention to the terrible state of security in the country.

Also speaking at the event, security experts Commodore Kunle Olawunmi and Mrs Tanwa Asiru drew attention to the tactics being deployed by the administration, they affirmed that the government needs to multi-task and think outside the box to solve the problem which has become multi-faceted.

Mr Adewale Ogunniran, Mr Seun Oloketuyi & Michael Effiong James during presentation of awards

Hon. Ahmed I. Omisore, Director-General BAT Foundation who represented Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa urged political office holders to realise that good governance is directly linked to the issue of security. He noted that when people in positions of responsibility fail to deliver democracy dividends, they are sowing the seed of insecurity. He urged government at all levels to pay attention to the issue of education.

In the course of the event awards were presented to some worthy Nigerians including Mr Seun Oloketuyi (Organiser, BON Awards), Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The event which had top broadcaster, Deji Balogun as compere was attended by Nigerians from all walks of life was also graced by Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, Asoju Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland who represented Aare Gani Adams.

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Breaking: Wike Plans to Attend Thursday’s PDP NEC Meeting

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NECeeting on Thursday is not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

Political stakeholders have concluded that the outcome of Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan.

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Bribery, Corruption: APC Suspends National Chairman, Ganduje

Published

4 days ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The All Progressives Congress ward in Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The party ward legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano State on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje levelled by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman, Mr Edwin Olufo, failed as his mobile phone was unreachable.

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Akpabio Commits to Collaboration with Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno

Published

1 week ago

April 12, 2024

Admin

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated his commitment to working closely with Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber.

He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.

The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I am here once again, to thank you for standing by me, our President and the party, before, during and even after last year’s elections. I have come to say thank you and also bring Renewed Hope to you all.

“As the President is doing his own, the Senate President is also doing his bit and being complemented by the state governor, Akwa Ibom would be the better for it. We have finished elections and politics, we are now into governance. The governor of the state must touch you, because he is the governor of all the people in the state irrespective of political affiliation.

” As I am touching you now from the political angle, I will also touch the state without any political party affiliation. Most of the projects we are putting in place would be used by people resident in the state. Relax, things are getting better.”

The former Governor of the state, assured his constituents that his current position as the Senate President would be used for the development of the state in collaboration with the President and the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Hear him: This Senate President is not the one that would be fighting the state government. I will collaborate with , I will collaborate with , to make the state better for us all. We cannot be out of government for a long time. You have to go to a government that carries you along”

Akpabio promised to work for his constituents and Nigeria with all his strength, noting that, “as the President of the Senate, I am for the Southern region and the entire country. I may not come here regularly to tell you what I have been doing for you, but you will be feeling the impact on way or the other. Our unemployed youths would be gainfully employed. I will construct a mini stadium in all the local governments in the district, for our youths to develop their sporting potentials. ”