News Commentary: “The Time Is Now”
Written by Aladesanmi Oyekanmi
For any serious government to succeed, such must prioritize the security mechanism.
Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s security outlook has been rocked with fear and anxiety.
Ranging from the Niger Delta militants attacks on oil facilities to IPOB’s unrest, Boko Haram insurgency, farmers and herders clash and lately banditry.
Apart from the social disturbances associated with this act, insecurity remained a force that makes a government loose her focus.
Considering the ugly effects of insecurity on the economy, maiming, killings, kidnapping, and other attacks have made Nigeria loose her grip on both human and natural potentials.
Insecurity has equally drained Nigerians confidence in the ability of the Buhari led government to make them sleep with their two eyes closed.
The security apparatus put in place by the government has yielded little or no results, changing the service chiefs now looks like putting a round peg in a square hole.
With huge amount of money earmarked for the procurement of security gadgets and other equipment, Nigeria still fails to tame the trend of insecurity.
The adoption of regional security outfits such as Isbar in the north, Amotekun in the southwest and Ebube Agu in the southeast could be seen as part of measures put in place to fight insecurity.
If these regional outfits are more or less successful, can we now conclude that the federal government’s security institutions are failure?
The recent attack on Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma’s residence was a clear indication that nobody is spared.
The time is now for the federal government to re-organize her security architecture.
The time is now for the federal government to look more inward and identify the root cause of the persistent insecurity.
The time is now for the federal government to redeem the image of Nigeria in the assembly of other great nations.
The time is now for the federal government to take her plea to other countries whose security remain stable.
This is the time for the government to begin serious training and retraining for the security personnel.
Nigeria needs a secured environment even as the 2023 general elections draw near.
If not now, when? The time is now.
