Renowned Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana SAN has said there
cannot be genuine democracy in the country unless insecurity is
phased out.
He, therefore, reiterated the demand for adequate funding of the
Nigerian Police Force to solve the intractable problem of
insecurity in the country.
Falana said this yesterday at a protest organised by the
People’s Alternative Front, held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park
in Lagos.
“Nigeria is in a crisis of terrorism, banditry and armed
robbery. And unless these problems are addressed, we cannot have
genuine democracy in our country.
“There is no democracy in the country and so, we are not in the
position to join public offices at the stadia today to celebrate
democracy.
“Section 14 of the Constitution provides that the security and
welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of
government.
“We want the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to be adequately
funded, equipped and motivated so that the security of our people
can be guaranteed,” Falana said
The Senior Advocate decried Military involvement in the security
of the country, urging that the dictates of the constitution should
be strictly adhered to.
“We do not want military involvement in the security of the
country. Under the Constitution, the Military is to defend the
territorial integrity of the country, while the Police Force is
obligated to discharge internal security.
“It is part of the legacy of Military dictatorship that the
government has abandoned the Nigerian Police Force and is currently
using the Armed Forces to secure the country, including the
management of elections,” SAN said.
Meanwhile, Femi beseeched the Federal Government to use the
recovered loot in addressing unemployment and disenchantment of the
frustration of the youths.
“Right now, the Buhari administration claimed to have recovered
over N600bn even from whistle-blowing policy alone, while EFCC and
others have recovered over N700bn.
“We are asking the government to deploy the bulk of this money
to take care of the youths to empower young people so that they
will move away from criminality.
“You cannot talk of security, without addressing the
unemployment of the youths, disenchantment of the frustration of
the youth. So, beyond the architecture of security, there must also
address unemployment.
When asked about the significance of the protest, He said that
it is to draw the attention of Nigerians to the dehumanization and
the devaluation of lives in our country.
The Activist added that it is to ensure that Nigerians take
their destiny in their own hands, bearing the pressure on the
government to secure their lives and property.
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