The issues of insecurity have taken the centre stage in the campaign promises and manifestoes of all the presidential candidates across political parties. Most of the candidates have agreed with the existence of the problem, and have promised to tackle it. They also believed it is the most monstrous situation that bedevilled our nation today. But rather than addressing the real causes of the problem, as well as the possible solutions to be employed, most of them choose to use it as a tool to score cheap and unmerited political points. And if the causes are not known, hardly any proper and practicable solution can be proffered.
The components of the hydra-headed monster of insecurity include secessionist movements and militants from the southern regions and religious extremists and bandits in the north. These gave the crises the colouration of religion, region, tribal and ethnic struggles. But a cursory look will reveal it to be purely political in nature. It is the political elites that instigate and indoctrinate, incite, induce and provoke the youth who serve as cannon fodder in all these crises. This is in order to cover up their mediocrity and lack of political credentials. The youths are vulnerable and susceptible to their manipulation because most of them are barely educated, unemployed, unemployable and poor.
The problem shouldn’t be limited to political sloganeering and campaign mantras but should be the fulcrum in the policy-making process. Because millions of lives have been terminated and properties worth trillions have been destroyed already. The masses have been traumatised, terrorised, injured, wounded and put under unnecessary dehumanising conditions. And the country’s development and corporate existence has been shaken beyond measure.
The nation cannot afford the continuation of this imbroglio. Hence the an urgent need to put a permanent stop to it, so that peace and harmony will be restored in the country.
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Governments at all tiers should employ and apply considerable efforts, in unveiling the real causes of the security conundrum. They should consider liaising with academics to research out the roots of the matter and proffer effective and efficient measures that can put a permanent and everlasting end to the problem. Especially now that the intelligentsia is percolating the government as appointees, their expertise, experience, knowledge and technocratic acumen should be utilised, to input fresh, new, current, innovative and advanced ideas in dealing with the security situation in the land. This is due to the fact that, the traditional kinetic measures taken seem to be ineffective, it is expedient to deploy non-kinetic, knowledge-based and technology-driven measures that are in concordance and concomitance with global best practices.
On the part of politicians and political leaders, however, there should be exercise of decorum in their campaign speeches. They should shun and avoid hate speeches or any ambiguous statements that may instigate bitterness, enmity, aspersion, animosity, belligerence, hatred, resentment, antagonism or rancor among people. They should focus on discussing issues that border on tackling the myriad of challenges that are encumbering the developmental and existential strides of the nation. And should explain how they can deal with them and state why the electorate should entrust them with their votes in the forthcoming elections.
Usman Aliyu Elnafaty, DP 21, Fadamar Jaji, Behind Federal Secretariate Complex. Bauchi.
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