By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Following the rising spate of insecurity which has bedeviled the Nigerian nation in recent time, and the prolong efforts by security operatives to put the situation under control, particularly in the North East region and in recent times in the South East region, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jonas Eteng Williams, has canvassed for the overhauling and restructuring of the country’s security architecture.
Williams stressed that restructuring the nation’s security architecture was the only way that the country can over come the insecurity problems plaguing it.
He made the advocacy while answering questions from journalists on the rising waves of insecurity in Nigeria, which is said to have left many dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed in its wake.
He said, “I feel our security architecture needs restructuring. I’m feeling that even the feedback mechanism is a bid faulty, otherwise the impact would have been felt.
“If every security unit is doing that which is right and doing it well, I don’t think we would have faced what the nation is going through.”
Stressing that if the present security architecture and techniques used by the security operatives to curb excesses of bandits/terrorists isn’t yielding positive result, there should be a complete overhauling of the nation’s security architecture for fruitful result, he insisted, “If the same system we’re using has failed, there is need for a change.”
The Speaker advocated for the use of drones to intensify and win the war against terrorism and insecurity of any form.
He added, “Modern technologies have changed, people should be able to look at things the way they are in modern world.
“Things have gone digital, we have drones which can be used to fish out the guys troubling the country.”
The lawmaker warned against politicizing matters that bordered on the nation’s security, stressing that if things are done the way they ought to be done, he has confidence that the country has capable hands to crush the bandits.
The lawmaker urged all hands to be on deck by doing the needful, giving useful information at the appropriate time to the security operatives so that those behind the insecurity situation can be crushed and the country return to the path of peace.
He added, “Security isn’t one man’s business but the responsibility of all of us. We don’t need to look at issues of security as a problem of the All Progressives Congress, APC, or the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, but an issue that affects all, irrespective of where you come from, whether you are an Igbo ,Hausa/Fulani or a CrossRiverian.
“Untill we get to a point that if I have an idea and I sell the idea to you, and you look at it on the merit, and not to look at my face that I’m Igbo.
“Once you do that, whatever information I am feeding you, you’re not going to take it serious.”
He said that tribal sentiments is one vice that is tearing the nation apart and urged Nigerians to shun ethnic/religious sentiments in order to keep the country as one.
The lawmaker called for the placement of responsibilities in the hands of competent individuals, notwithstanding their ethno-religious and cultural background, in as much as they have capacity to deliver.
