Insecurity: We Are Considering Restructuring, Not Separation — FG

ON Tuesday in Lagos, the Federal Government gave the closest
hint of being committed to restructuring the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made
the disclosure to the media, which he begged to tone down rhetoric
on national challenges.

Beyond the political restructuring which the central authorities
said was receiving the attention of all major stakeholders in the
polity, the terror war gear was being primed for another level,
with the planned prosecution of 400 suspected financiers of alleged
terrorism.

In the playbook which the minister said was generated from the
recent national dialogue in Kaduna, the judiciary is also listed
for unbundling to shake off the yoke of alleged current unitarism
in operating the system.

He said: “Gentlemen, the government realises that the security
challenges we face today are systemic, hence has – in addition to
kinetic efforts – also embarked on various non-kinetic measures to
most effectively tackle the challenges.

“Recently, specifically on April 8, 2021, we held a town hall
meeting on national security in Kaduna, after which we came out
with an implementable 10-point agenda;

“That the governance of human society should be based on law
rather than the whims and caprices of human beings and must be
obeyed by all as all persons are equal before the law, including
the law givers.

“That there is an urgent need for political restructuring and
not separation.

“That the judiciary be decentralised and reformed through
constitutional amendment to remove the unitary control of the
superior courts.”

The remaining seven, according to the minister, include, “That
government at all levels should ensure free, qualitative and
compulsory primary education for all children of school age,

“That the military, police and other security agencies should be
expanded in number, retrained, provided with modern equipment and
technology to cope with emerging security challenges,

“That both religious and traditional leaders should encourage
and promote intermarriages for unity as contained in the 1999
Constitution as amended, Article 15, 3(c) which prescribes
intermarriage, among persons from different places of origin, or of
different religious, ethnic or linguistic association or ties.

“That the establishment of State Police should be supported by
the National and State Houses of Assembly to enable State
Governments have firm control in addressing security issues. “And
finally that the farmers/herders clashes be addressed by
establishment of ranches, grazing reserves with modern amenities to
check the trans-humans of the herders.”

Unlike recent past, he said the government is totally committed
to implementation this time.

ON Tuesday in Lagos, the Federal Government gave the closest
hint of being committed to restructuring the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made
the disclosure to the media, which he begged to tone down rhetoric
on national challenges.

Beyond the political restructuring which the central authorities
said was receiving the attention of all major stakeholders in the
polity, the terror war gear was being primed for another level,
with the planned prosecution of 400 suspected financiers of alleged
terrorism.

In the playbook which the minister said was generated from the
recent national dialogue in Kaduna, the judiciary is also listed
for unbundling to shake off the yoke of alleged current unitarism
in operating the system.

He said: “Gentlemen, the government realises that the security
challenges we face today are systemic, hence has – in addition to
kinetic efforts – also embarked on various non-kinetic measures to
most effectively tackle the challenges.

“Recently, specifically on April 8, 2021, we held a town hall
meeting on national security in Kaduna, after which we came out
with an implementable 10-point agenda;

“That the governance of human society should be based on law
rather than the whims and caprices of human beings and must be
obeyed by all as all persons are equal before the law, including
the law givers.

“That there is an urgent need for political restructuring and
not separation.

“That the judiciary be decentralised and reformed through
constitutional amendment to remove the unitary control of the
superior courts.”

The remaining seven, according to the minister, include, “That
government at all levels should ensure free, qualitative and
compulsory primary education for all children of school age,

“That the military, police and other security agencies should be
expanded in number, retrained, provided with modern equipment and
technology to cope with emerging security challenges,

“That both religious and traditional leaders should encourage
and promote intermarriages for unity as contained in the 1999
Constitution as amended, Article 15, 3(c) which prescribes
intermarriage, among persons from different places of origin, or of
different religious, ethnic or linguistic association or ties.

“That the establishment of State Police should be supported by
the National and State Houses of Assembly to enable State
Governments have firm control in addressing security issues. “And
finally that the farmers/herders clashes be addressed by
establishment of ranches, grazing reserves with modern amenities to
check the trans-humans of the herders.”

Unlike recent past, he said the government is totally committed
to implementation this time.