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The ex-Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), has stated that the growing insecurity across the country, especially terrorism and banditry, may threaten the 2023 elections. The former Minister of Interior stated this when he delivered a paper at the annual Public Lectures and Impact Series/Awards of the Blueprint Newspaper Limited in Abuja.
Dambazau advised the security agencies to take the battle to the criminals in their hideouts. He lamented that terrorists were creating cells close to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and called for a review of the security sector after the 2023 elections. He also warned against ethno-religious politics. According to Dambazau, “a significant part of the security sector reforms is security governance, centred on strengthening the effectiveness of security institutions.” He also emphasised that “one of the areas we need to focus our attention on is emergency response planning and coordination.”
Dambazau is not alone in raising the alarm over the 2023 elections due to rising insecurity. Other prominent Nigerians have also expressed fears over the polls. Without tackling the threatening security challenges, holding the 2023 elections may not be possible in some parts of the country.
Despite the seeming pessimism over the 2023 elections, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, has assured Nigerians that the elections will hold, the festering insecurity across the country notwithstanding. The CDS, who stated this in Abuja, promised that the military would do everything possible to ensure that nothing stops the election from holding.
The Defence Chief reiterated the commitment of the military to protect the nation’s democracy. In the same vein, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, spoke recently about the preparedness of Nigeria Police Force to tackle the rising security challenges before the commencement of the elections. The police boss said the police would work with other security agencies to ensure a hitch-free poll. The Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also assured Nigerians and the international community that the elections would hold as scheduled. They also stated that the polls would be free, fair and transparent.
These promises are reassuring. Government should beef up the nation’s security architecture by recruiting more soldiers and policemen. We call for more collaboration with foreign agencies as well as sharing of intelligence among security agencies.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) must be effectively utilised to complement the Nigeria Police Force. All policemen attached to some politicians and other Nigerians should be withdrawn and be allowed to perform the normal police duties. After all, the duty of the police is to ensure the security of all citizens. We believe that the security operatives are capable of winning the war against insecurity if they are well motivated.
The security agencies should be proactive in the war against the terrorists and other criminals across the country. Criminals must neither be allowed to have control of any Nigerian territory nor be allowed to levy taxes on the citizens in whatever guise. At a time like this, the Federal Government must not toy with the welfare of members of the armed forces and policemen. Their salaries and allowances must be timely paid. In fact, inter-agency rift should be jettisoned forthwith. Security governance should be scaled up.
It is commendable that some state governors are working in concert with the Federal Government to curb the rising insecurity. Since the governors are the chief security officers of their states, they must use their security votes to ensure security in their states. We commend the security agencies for their commitment to ensure that the 2023 elections will hold. Beyond the declarations by the security chiefs, they must work hard to secure the country and allow Nigerians have a peaceful election. Besides, the INEC must conduct credible elections that Nigerians will be proud of.
While commending the electoral umpire for its strides in Ekiti and Osun off-season polls, let it deliver the best ever polls in 2023. There will be no margin for error. Nigerians and the global community are watching. INEC should not disappoint them.
