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In response to the escalating security challenges facing Nigeria, prominent politician and former APC senatorial candidate for the Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has commended President Bola Tinubu and members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, for agreeing to initiate the creation of state police across the nation, while urging them to adopt a multi-pronged approach.
In a press statement issued today, Onjeh advocated a holistic strategy that goes beyond the singular implementation of state police, arguing that a multi-faceted crisis demands a multi-pronged response.
The former Chairman of the Governing Board of PRODA, Enugu, painted a stark picture of Nigeria’s current security landscape riddled with kidnapping, terrorism, and other violent conflicts. He emphasized the ineffectiveness of piecemeal solutions, highlighting the need for a comprehensive strategy that tackles the root causes of these issues.
The statement delves into the crucial role of local governments, often referred to as the grassroots level of governance. Comrade Onjeh argued that granting local governments autonomy will equip them to better understand and address the unique security challenges within their communities. Local Government autonomy, according to Onjeh, includes providing the third tier of government the financial resources and legal frameworks to establish effective local security outfits at district and municipal levels, as is the practice in the United States, thereby engaging in proactive community policing initiatives.
“When local government area councils invest the resources that will accrue to them from their autonomy on projects in their communities, they will provide jobs to the teeming unemployed youths in the country and reduce hardship and hopelessness that makes them susceptible to the lure of criminal gangs, bandits, and terrorist groups. Mass employment will reduce insecurity across the land, ”stated Onjeh.
Onjeh further stated that local government autonomy will deepen democracy, especially at the grassroots, as it will strengthen citizens’ faith in the democratic process, thereby increasing their participation in the process.
Furthermore, Comrade Onjeh stated that the Federal Government is currently overstretched, while the performance of most state governors leave much to be desired. But by their very nature, the local governments are better equipped to detect and contain many security challenges before they escalate.
The decline in the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria, Onjeh noted, is consequent upon the Supreme Court ruling of 2002, and the nation has witnessed an upsurge in insecurity ever since.
Comrade Onjeh underscored the importance of an independent and efficient judiciary in upholding the rule of law and deterring criminal activity. He argued that judicial autonomy, free from undue political influence and executive interference, will ensure swift and fair administration of justice, fostering a sense of security and accountability in the citizenry.
Onjeh further stated that the proposed reform of the judiciary should jettison the absolute immunity governors currently enjoy. He proposed that the reform should allow the suing of governors for offenses bordering on human rights abuse. “While governors may be exempted from prosecution on corruption charges during their tenures in office, they should not escape prosecution for human rights abuses; and when they are convicted, they should serve their sentences immediately after the expiration of their tenure,” stated Onjeh.
These measures, Onjeh believes, will allay citizens’ fears of governors using their state’s police force to suppress opposition and silence dissenting voices.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of state police in addressing local security concerns, Comrade Onjeh cautions against viewing it as a standalone solution. He emphasized the need for robust safeguards and proper implementation mechanisms to prevent potential abuse of power (particularly by governors) and ensure effective collaboration with federal security agencies.
The former president of Nigeria’s apex student body, NANS, stressed that local government and judiciary autonomy must complement the establishment of state police. He envisioned a system where empowered local governments will collaborate with state police forces, all operating under the oversight of an independent judiciary, hence creating a robust security architecture that is responsive to the needs of the people. This three-pronged reform, Onjeh asserts, should be instituted together at the same time, as they would pass through the same legislative process. That, he maintains, will save millions of naira of taxpayers’ money that will otherwise be spent if the reforms were put through the works separately.
The statement noted that while we must not be oblivious of the foreign dimensions to the current security situation in Nigeria, as our communities have obviously been infiltrated by foreign criminal elements; it is however the idle, frustrated and depressed youths that are most susceptible to serve as collaborators to the foreign criminal invaders. Onjeh therefore stated that the more we delay in creating jobs and empowerment opportunities for our teeming army of unemployed youths, the more the foreign criminals are going to penetrate our younger generation until the security situation assumes the dimension of an epidemic, making it more difficult to contain.
“But if our youths are empowered, they can further assist the security forces in resisting the infiltrating criminal elements. There is an adage in Hausa Language that says, ‘da dan gari akkanchi gari,’ meaning, the mission of an intruder cannot be accomplished without the active support of an insider,” stated Onjeh.
The APC chieftain was however strongly of the view that tackling insecurity still required addressing its root causes, such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities. Onjeh urged the Federal Government to invest in programs that empower communities (particularly those in rural areas), create jobs, and promote social justice, thereby reducing the vulnerabilities that make individuals susceptible to criminal activities.
He equally emphasized the importance of building trust and collaboration between the government, security agencies, and the citizenry. He advocated open communication, community engagement, respect for human rights, and fostering a sense of shared responsibility and ownership in combating insecurity.
Onjeh further made a passionate call to action, urging President Tinubu to seize the opportunity and make history by implementing these crucial reforms. He expressed confidence that by prioritizing local government and judiciary autonomy alongside state police, Nigeria can make significant strides in creating a safer and more secure future for all its citizens.
“The 9th Senate took the issue of local government, state police, and judicial autonomy far, but were thwarted by the governors. Our nation’s problems are surmountable. This is a turning point. Now that all the governors have signed off on the creation of state police, we should make the sacrifices required to put Nigeria back on an even keel,” stated Onjeh.
Comrade Onjeh’s call for a holistic approach to tackling insecurity presents a compelling argument. “By addressing the interconnected issues of local governance, judicial independence and security structures, Nigeria can lay the foundation for a more peaceful and prosperous nation. The time for decisive action is now, and President Tinubu has the opportunity to lead the way in shaping a brighter future for Nigeria,” observed Onjeh.
Onjeh concluded by stating that while he enjoins all citizens to give their full support to the process so we can achieve peace as a nation, he calls on all stakeholders, particularly the political actors, to make the most honest and judicious use of all the resources and relief materials handed over to them by the Federal Government as short term measures to cushion the effects of the prevailing hardship in the country.
“It is regrettable, what happened last December, where a lot of the relief materials released by the Federal Government to states and federal legislators to distribute to the poor and needy in the society, were hoarded, particularly by some members of the National Assembly. I consider that to be the height of callousness. They should always do good to give to the masses, what belongs to the masses. It is only through practical acts of patriotism by our leaders and public office holders that we can de-escalate the violence and crime rate plaguing the nation,” stated Onjeh.
