By Adodo Osewengie
The Chief Security Officer (CSO) to General Sani Abacha, a former Head of State, Maj Hamza Al-Mustapha has called on the government to look into the root causes of the insecurity threats in the nation as investing heavily on military artilleries is not enough to option to win the war against insurgency.
Al-Mustapha made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when he stated that the total use of military and force to tackle insecurity in the nation has proved not completely effective in the first National Launch of Kick Peace by International Association of World Peace Advocates.
The CSO in a statement, noted that all relevant stakeholders, which includes the government, and especially the media should explore the option of carrying out peace and awareness programmes, peace education, and its sustenance to sensitize the Nigerian youths.
Reiterating, he said the media need to engage in constant sensitization campaigns of the people on the existence of threats to boost their consciousness while advocating for peace through engagements and education.
Al-Mustapha said that the government must break some barriers promoting insecurity in the nation by reviewing some immigration issues that permeates its borders, and also synegize with the governments of border nations to checkmate the scourge threatening the collective peace of her citizens.
“Some of the solutions today that the government is investing heavily in the containment of threat, that is using the military or using force is not enough.
“Education, mobilization of the people, mobilization and educating the youths that is peace education, peace sustenance, peace promotion not only in Nigeria but synergizing with other African countries that surrounds Nigeria.
“If we can look at some other barriers and do away with them, we can come together and make sure that numerous immigration issues are reduced, we will be able to see lots of threats that permeates in between.
“The media should look inward and look at the threats, that of media is peace education or peace enlightenment and peace sustenance, which requires intermittently reawakening the people of the existence of threats and what is expected of the citizens,’’ he said.
A senior lecturer of the Law Department, Nassarawa State University, Mr John Shishi, noted that the level of insecurity in the country is alarming and the government needs to apply implementable strategies aimed at restoring peace back to the nation.
According to him, true federalism, good governance, effective tax system, creating a clear distinction between the state and religion, resetting Motives Values and Preferences (MVP) and others are some of the applicable variables the government need to adopt to achieve peace.
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Shishi added that to address the insecurity in the country, the government also need to carry out drastic reform of its security architecture, boost its border security and run a well coordinated security.
Mrs Amina Temitope-Ajayi, who was conferred with Eminent Peace Ambassador noted that the concept of governance needs to be reviewed due to the growing challenges of insecurity in the country in order to guarantee sustainable peace, fairness and justice.
According to her, Nigeria needs to diversify from its overbearing dependence on crude oil for generating revenue to other sectors and natural resources. It also needs to practice good governance, transparent electoral processes, creation of jobs and promotion of other good initiatives aimed at repositioning the nation.
Mrs Amina Temitope-Ajayi popularly knows as “Mama Diaspora” in her statement said, “factors that caused insecurity are tied down to lack of transparency and accountability, situation where some ethnic groups feel marginalized.
“Others are religious intolerance, electoral malpractice, mismanagement of funds, high level of unemployment and the lack of respect to the rule of law, to mention but a few,’’ she added.
In the event, with representatives from South Africa, Central African Republic, Niger Republic, Cameroon, amongst others in attendance, eminent Nigerians we’re conferred with the eminent peace awards.
