Africa Press-Nigeria:<\/p>\n
A Group, Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders on Wednesday called for dialogue and cooperation to tackle the country\u2019s rising security challenges.<\/p>\n
The group made the call in a statement signed by the President, Goodluck Egwu Ibem and Secretary, Kanice Igwe.<\/p>\n
The group lamented that almost all the states in Nigeria are currently faced with one form of security challenge or the other<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom terrorism to banditry and to kidnapping, no single state within Nigeria is without any form of criminality or insecurity,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
They noted that provision of adequate security is a collective task which government alone cannot handle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue of security is undoubtedly the primary duty and responsibility of any government to its citizens and no progress significant or otherwise can be recorded without guarantee of security. It behooves the needful is done since it follows that security is a collective task\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current security state of Nigeria is not a task one person, even the military top brass alone can handle. Intelligence sharing, technical and logistical support, increased funding and financial support will, no doubt, go along away in remedying Nigeria\u2019s predicament but will not be enough to address her security woes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Youth Leaders noted that the kind of violence presently confronting the country is largely from non-state actors and internecine warfare.<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cWhile funding and logistics are vital and still part of the main, the place of experience cannot be gainsaid. It is here that Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji comes into the Nigerian security picture so well\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cExperience is vital in any human affairs and much so in the area of security. Today in the United States, Britain and other developed democracies, military strategy has been sought from the hands of veterans, active and retired politicians and strategic scholars in military and war discipline including security experts to navigate through the woods of insecurity. Nigeria should not be any different\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cVariously, angry calls have \u2013 in the past and present times \u2013 been made by political oppositions; by the media (through releases, feature and opinion articles); by civil society and advocacy groups all demanding the immediate relief of various service chiefs.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo this end, the president (commander in chief of armed forces) has upbraided his service chiefs calling their best not \u201cgood enough\u201d but what largely remains undone in tackling the problem is consultation, especially with men of experience outside those with military training and background\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs governor of Abia state, Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji was faced with challenges of insecurity ranging from kidnapping to even armed robbery. Theodore Orji at that time was able to deploy both local and national intelligence infrastructure to curb the ugly situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchool children, owners of businesses and captains of industries were preyed upon by a cliquish group led by one Osisikankwu, a notorious kidnap kingpin\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith collaboration of federal government of the day, governor Orji was able to see the end of men like ChinChon and Osisikankwu, both ringleaders of heist, organized crime and kidnap gangs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity, we believe, is never beyond Nigeria and can never be the exclusive preserve of any group but all. Recently, the army chief, General Tukur Buratai, in a seeming hapless response said Nigeria can only overcome her security challenges if Nigerians are willing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though on a surface his position seemed out of place but if Nigerians with experience are brought in the picture better milestone could be reached. What is happening in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Borno and by extension other parts of the country can be best managed if experienced people the calibre of Senator T. A. Orji are brought in\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouthern Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa and Katsina are all parts of Nigeria and deserve national support in times like this. The picture of things presently does not tell well about what would be our Post Covid-19 economy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to dwindling oil price occasioned by the virus, investors, in a rash and sudden flight seem to be leaving Nigeria for a more secure clime. Businesses, economies (whether micro or macro scale) thrive best in atmosphere of relative calm and peace\u201d.<\/p>\n
The group added that what is bedeviling the nation is basically an internal problem coming from within the states and local governments within.<\/p>\n
They noted that if the security architecture of the day is built to enhance local policing and intelligence the situation will be better adding that the governors cannot tackle and combat the challenges alone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Africa Press-Nigeria: A Group, Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders on Wednesday called for dialogue and cooperation to tackle the country\u2019s rising security challenges. The group made the call in a statement signed by the President, Goodluck Egwu Ibem and Secretary, Kanice Igwe. The group lamented that almost all the states in Nigeria are currently faced […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":28634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,30],"tags":[363,637],"class_list":["post-28633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-insecurity","tag-south-east-of-nigeria"],"yoast_head":"\n