Insecurity: Shettima Commends Irabor on Improved Synergy, Says Military Overstretched
The Senator representing Borno Central in the National Assembly, Kashim Shettima, has made a huge case for the Nigeria Armed Forces, saying they are overstretched and need a lot more support from the Federal Government.
Speaking at the 21st Century Chronicle Roundtable with the theme: “Going For Broke: Fighting Insecurity In Nigeria,” held at the Shehu Yar’adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, Shettima wondered how the Military could do better than they are doing if as at 2016, the Armed Forces were present in 30 out of 36 states of the federation, solving internal security problems.
Shettima however reserved commendation for the men and officers of the Military for braving the odds to gradually defeat the myriads of security challenges facing the country.
He commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, who was the Guest of Honour at the occasion, for bringing the needed synergy among security services and eradicating interagency rivalry which used to be a big problem in the past.
According to Shettima, the newfound synergy among the security services brought by Irabor is one of the reasons a lot of successes are being recorded recently in the battle against bandits, terrorists and other trouble makers across the country.
He called for more funding and other forms of support from the Federal Government to enable the Military to sustain the present tempo.
He also commended Irabor for deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures in battling the country’s multi-faceted security challenges.
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Emphasizing the fact that the security and welfare of the people is the primary business of the government, the former Borno state governor noted that security issues don’t stand alone as they involve or reflect the socio-economic status of the entire country.
He advised the government to seek to solve security problems by also fixing the economy and making sure there are opportunities for the youth to excel, express their talents and fulfill their potential.
“But we must also be constantly aware that security does not stand isolated from the general economic health of the country. Is the economic situation such as to give hope to the huge majority of young people who enter the job market each year? Is the economy creating enough jobs or legitimate avenues for self realization by our people? Is there hope that economic choices that we are making would in the short, medium and long run, provide the type of opportunity that can see the flowering of young people in manners that can help us deal with the consequences of underdevelopment that really are the roots of insecurity? In my view, these are not ideal questions and the more we find the links between the economy and security, the more authentic will be all our endeavours to solve the problems confronting us as a nation,” he noted.
The roundtable organized by 21st Century Media Services, had in attendance, Gen Irabor who was the keynote speaker while the Sarkin Zazzau Suleja, Alhaji Muhammadu Auwal Ibrahim was the Royal Father of the Day.
The former military spokesperson, Maj Gen Chris Olukolade and Dr. Mairo Mandara of Children’s Investment Fund Foundation discussed the Chief of Defence Staff’s paper.
Prof Jideofor Adibe of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Other speakers at two sessions of the event included Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim of Center for Democracy and Development [CDD], Mr. Dan Agbese of MayFive Media, Prof Mohammed Kuna of INEC and Hajia Zainab Okino of Blueprint Newspapers
Malam Mahmud Jega is the Editor-in-Chief the online newspaper.
