Nigeria Is At A Cross Road, Under Threat, Say Lawan, Gbajabiamila

…As Reps Seek Solution To Nigeria Security
Challenges

The Leadership of the National Assembly rose in Unisom on
Wednesday with the conclusion that the Nigerian nation was at a
cross road and under serious threat from the current security
challenges across the country.

Both the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila both
agreed that the very essence of the existence of the Nigerian
nation was under serious threat.

Speaking at a three day National Security Summit organsied by
the House of Representatives Special Adhoc Committee on National
Security, the National Assembly presiding Officers also agreed that
it was high time Nigerians work together in one accord irrespective
of ethnic, political or religious affiliation to save the country
from the impending catastrophe.

The summit which was earlier scheduled to begin on Monday was
shifted to Wednesday in honour of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.
General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others who died in a plane crash in
Kaduna.

Lawan said: “I want to say here that Nigeria is at cross roads
today. The very essence of the existence of this country is under
serious threat. What started as insurgency in 2009 or so in the
North Western part of Yobe has now snowballed into full scale
insurgency in the entire north east.

“What was not known to us in the North West is now today the
home of banditry and kidnapping. The North Central, as we all know
is not safe. It suffers clashes between the herders and our
farmers.

“And the recent introduction in the south east is another
serious threat to the existence of this country where government
institutions are targeted, our police and security agencies are
being killed on a daily basis. Our institutions and buildings are
burnt.

“I believe that these are threats, not only to those areas, but
the entire nation. Our armed forces are doing their best. I must
commend our armed forces and other security agencies for doing so
much with the little we are able to give them.

“The National Assembly has always been on the side of giving the
kind of support, either legislative, or the kind of financial
support that our armed forces and indeed all other security
agencies require, even though we have our limits.”

The Senate President who is also the Chairman of the National
Assembly said the essence of the summit is to look for ways of
improving the performance of the nation’s armed forces and other
security agencies, insisting that “this summit is essential because
we are tested as a country, we are tested as a people.

“Criminals everywhere have found probably comfort in doing what
they do. This is the time for the legislature and executive arm of
government to come even closer in finding solutions. I want to take
this opportunity to appeal and ask the executive arm of government
to implement whatever would be the outcome of this summit.

“A criminal has only one name and that is criminal. No criminal
should have comfort in his ethnic enclave. Whoever, or where ever
that person is, once he is a criminal, he is simply a criminal and
must be dealt with in the appropriate manner regardless of where he
or she is coming from.

“It is also important that we provide resources, more resources
for our security agencies to enable them better tackle the criminal
activities across the country and our armed forces can do that. But
the fact remains that we have not enabled them enough.

“Today in this country, there is no better investment than
investing in the security of our people. We must ensure that we
protect the lives and property of our people. This is the essence
of government.

“So while the National Assembly should work hard as it always
done to provide more resources, I also want to say we must review
procurement processes by the security agencies.

“While we are not going to open up how they do these things to
the public, but as parliamentarian who approve the funding, we must
understand how these procurement processes are undertaken.

“If the processes require that we change the way we do that,
because of inefficiencies, we should go ahead and do so, because it
is not enough to just put in more resources, but how the resources
are deployed within the economy, with prudence and efficiency.

“I want to once again appeal to us in the National Assembly. The
security agencies, we know are doing their best, but I think it is
high time we work with the executive arm of government to look at
the architecture of our security system for better performance.

“When I mention architecture, I also want to mention that all
levels of government are responsible for securing the lives and
property of Nigerians. The federal, states and local governments.
And of course it is a well-known fact that the local governments
does not function.

“The local government system does not function and that takes
away a lot from our efforts at providing security for lives and
property of people. And when I mention the local government system
not functioning, our traditional rulers, who had played major roles
in protecting us today have no function more or less.

“It is only when there are problems, we look for them. In the
northern part of the country and I daresay all parts of Nigeria,
our traditional rulers play key roles in ensuring security in their
domains. Why can’t we look at the possibility of providing and
official function for them, even if it is in advisory capacity in
the constitution?”

In his address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila said Nigeria was a nation under attack, adding that
Nigerians must work together in one accord irrespective of
political or religious affiliation to save it from the impending
catastrophe.

The Speaker said the victory of Nigerians over current security
challenges in eh country will depend on the ability to set aside
all differences and mobilise in one accord.

The Speaker said every Nigerian need to work for peace and the
desired benefits and expressed the hope that the country will come
out of the current challenges, saying; “It may well be that it is
in the crucible of this battle for survival that we become a nation
fully formed. Therefore, we must rise to the moment with passion
and perspective.”

Gbajabamila said “we are a nation under attack. Our victory in
this present battle depends greatly on our ability to set aside our
differences and mobilise in one accord against an impending
catastrophe that threatens all of us regardless of language,
religion, politics or status.

“We hope for peace and desire its benefits. Yet neither fervent
hope nor heartfelt desire will suffice because the ends of peace
require action. As in the words of the former American President,
Bill Clinton, ‘peace must be waged with a warrior’s resolve;
bravely, proudly, and relentlessly. Secure in the knowledge of the
single greatest difference between war and peace, in peace
everybody wins.’

“Let us in this defining moment, work together to pursue the
things that make for peace. Let us dedicate ourselves to ending
violence, and disorder in our land, and to improving the quality of
life for all our nation’s people. Let us work together to uphold
the honour and glory of Nigeria, and free our nation to be a place
of peace and justice forevermore.”

According to the Speaker, “an enduring peace depends on our
ability to build a society where individuals can aspire to and
achieve their righteous ambitions on the strength of their effort
and regardless of the status of their birth.

“Yet, achieving this kind of society depends on securing the
lives of our people, protecting property and investment, and
ensuring that people can freely traverse the length of our country
without fear of danger and molestation.

“The legislative obligation to make laws for the good governance
of the country exists alongside a duty to make sure that the
policies we develop and the legislation we consider and pass,
address the most pressing concerns of the Nigerian people.”

He said further that policies and legislation of government must
also include the considered contributions of our citizens and be
capable of meeting the highest ambitions of our nationhood, saying
“we have convened this Special Summit on National Security to
jointly, as citizens and public servants, find solutions to the
problem of insecurity in our country.

“We are here because we know that our national ambitions will
not be attained without lasting peace and security. We are here to
have honest conversations about where we are, how we got here, and
the hard choices we must make to guarantee a secure future for all
our nation’s children.”

He said the summit will consider the contributions of a
cross-section of the Nigerian people and develop therefrom,
recommendations that take into proper account the social and
constitutional, political, and economic factors that contribute to
insecurity in our country, while identifying specific legislative
actions and make practicable recommendations for executive
action.

The Speaker said; “we do not seek and do not have it in our
power to put an end to all conflict. Our responsibility in
government is to ensure that the lives and property of all the
people within Nigeria are safe from the predations of those who use
violence for profit or in service of religious or ethnic
objectives. And to make sure that whosoever raises arms against our
country is served the full measure of justice.

“This Summit is not an avenue for name-calling, for apportioning
blame or absolving responsibility. Our national house is on fire,
and the people we serve rightly expect that we will devote all our
energies and resources to trying to improve the future, rather than
be paralysed in the present, grieving about the errors and failures
of the past.

“It is by the work we do now that we can redeem ourselves and
save our beloved country. This Summit must be, and is solution
driven.

“Our deliberations in this Summit and the recommendations that
emerge therefrom will reflect all the factors that have
precipitated our present circumstances, including issues of
economic fairness, the allocation of state resources, the
deficiencies of our criminal justice system, and the role of
critical national institutions such as the National Assembly, the
Judiciary, and the state and local governments.”

The Speaker announced that the Summit will be conducted behind
closed doors to allow informed stakeholders to engage frankly on
matters of National Security in a protected environment and allow
all stakeholder participate in an exhaustive consideration of
ideas.

He said while the National Assembly will act on and implement
the recommendations from the summit, it will also present the
recommendations to the President for executive action, saying; “Mr.
President has assured me that he will receive and consider the
report, as a good faith contribution by parliament to address a
matter of urgent national importance.”

…As Reps Seek Solution To Nigeria Security
Challenges

The Leadership of the National Assembly rose in Unisom on
Wednesday with the conclusion that the Nigerian nation was at a
cross road and under serious threat from the current security
challenges across the country.

Both the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila both
agreed that the very essence of the existence of the Nigerian
nation was under serious threat.

Speaking at a three day National Security Summit organsied by
the House of Representatives Special Adhoc Committee on National
Security, the National Assembly presiding Officers also agreed that
it was high time Nigerians work together in one accord irrespective
of ethnic, political or religious affiliation to save the country
from the impending catastrophe.

The summit which was earlier scheduled to begin on Monday was
shifted to Wednesday in honour of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.
General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others who died in a plane crash in
Kaduna.

Lawan said: “I want to say here that Nigeria is at cross roads
today. The very essence of the existence of this country is under
serious threat. What started as insurgency in 2009 or so in the
North Western part of Yobe has now snowballed into full scale
insurgency in the entire north east.

“What was not known to us in the North West is now today the
home of banditry and kidnapping. The North Central, as we all know
is not safe. It suffers clashes between the herders and our
farmers.

“And the recent introduction in the south east is another
serious threat to the existence of this country where government
institutions are targeted, our police and security agencies are
being killed on a daily basis. Our institutions and buildings are
burnt.

“I believe that these are threats, not only to those areas, but
the entire nation. Our armed forces are doing their best. I must
commend our armed forces and other security agencies for doing so
much with the little we are able to give them.

“The National Assembly has always been on the side of giving the
kind of support, either legislative, or the kind of financial
support that our armed forces and indeed all other security
agencies require, even though we have our limits.”

The Senate President who is also the Chairman of the National
Assembly said the essence of the summit is to look for ways of
improving the performance of the nation’s armed forces and other
security agencies, insisting that “this summit is essential because
we are tested as a country, we are tested as a people.

“Criminals everywhere have found probably comfort in doing what
they do. This is the time for the legislature and executive arm of
government to come even closer in finding solutions. I want to take
this opportunity to appeal and ask the executive arm of government
to implement whatever would be the outcome of this summit.

“A criminal has only one name and that is criminal. No criminal
should have comfort in his ethnic enclave. Whoever, or where ever
that person is, once he is a criminal, he is simply a criminal and
must be dealt with in the appropriate manner regardless of where he
or she is coming from.

“It is also important that we provide resources, more resources
for our security agencies to enable them better tackle the criminal
activities across the country and our armed forces can do that. But
the fact remains that we have not enabled them enough.

“Today in this country, there is no better investment than
investing in the security of our people. We must ensure that we
protect the lives and property of our people. This is the essence
of government.

“So while the National Assembly should work hard as it always
done to provide more resources, I also want to say we must review
procurement processes by the security agencies.

“While we are not going to open up how they do these things to
the public, but as parliamentarian who approve the funding, we must
understand how these procurement processes are undertaken.

“If the processes require that we change the way we do that,
because of inefficiencies, we should go ahead and do so, because it
is not enough to just put in more resources, but how the resources
are deployed within the economy, with prudence and efficiency.

“I want to once again appeal to us in the National Assembly. The
security agencies, we know are doing their best, but I think it is
high time we work with the executive arm of government to look at
the architecture of our security system for better performance.

“When I mention architecture, I also want to mention that all
levels of government are responsible for securing the lives and
property of Nigerians. The federal, states and local governments.
And of course it is a well-known fact that the local governments
does not function.

“The local government system does not function and that takes
away a lot from our efforts at providing security for lives and
property of people. And when I mention the local government system
not functioning, our traditional rulers, who had played major roles
in protecting us today have no function more or less.

“It is only when there are problems, we look for them. In the
northern part of the country and I daresay all parts of Nigeria,
our traditional rulers play key roles in ensuring security in their
domains. Why can’t we look at the possibility of providing and
official function for them, even if it is in advisory capacity in
the constitution?”

In his address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila said Nigeria was a nation under attack, adding that
Nigerians must work together in one accord irrespective of
political or religious affiliation to save it from the impending
catastrophe.

The Speaker said the victory of Nigerians over current security
challenges in eh country will depend on the ability to set aside
all differences and mobilise in one accord.

The Speaker said every Nigerian need to work for peace and the
desired benefits and expressed the hope that the country will come
out of the current challenges, saying; “It may well be that it is
in the crucible of this battle for survival that we become a nation
fully formed. Therefore, we must rise to the moment with passion
and perspective.”

Gbajabamila said “we are a nation under attack. Our victory in
this present battle depends greatly on our ability to set aside our
differences and mobilise in one accord against an impending
catastrophe that threatens all of us regardless of language,
religion, politics or status.

“We hope for peace and desire its benefits. Yet neither fervent
hope nor heartfelt desire will suffice because the ends of peace
require action. As in the words of the former American President,
Bill Clinton, ‘peace must be waged with a warrior’s resolve;
bravely, proudly, and relentlessly. Secure in the knowledge of the
single greatest difference between war and peace, in peace
everybody wins.’

“Let us in this defining moment, work together to pursue the
things that make for peace. Let us dedicate ourselves to ending
violence, and disorder in our land, and to improving the quality of
life for all our nation’s people. Let us work together to uphold
the honour and glory of Nigeria, and free our nation to be a place
of peace and justice forevermore.”

According to the Speaker, “an enduring peace depends on our
ability to build a society where individuals can aspire to and
achieve their righteous ambitions on the strength of their effort
and regardless of the status of their birth.

“Yet, achieving this kind of society depends on securing the
lives of our people, protecting property and investment, and
ensuring that people can freely traverse the length of our country
without fear of danger and molestation.

“The legislative obligation to make laws for the good governance
of the country exists alongside a duty to make sure that the
policies we develop and the legislation we consider and pass,
address the most pressing concerns of the Nigerian people.”

He said further that policies and legislation of government must
also include the considered contributions of our citizens and be
capable of meeting the highest ambitions of our nationhood, saying
“we have convened this Special Summit on National Security to
jointly, as citizens and public servants, find solutions to the
problem of insecurity in our country.

“We are here because we know that our national ambitions will
not be attained without lasting peace and security. We are here to
have honest conversations about where we are, how we got here, and
the hard choices we must make to guarantee a secure future for all
our nation’s children.”

He said the summit will consider the contributions of a
cross-section of the Nigerian people and develop therefrom,
recommendations that take into proper account the social and
constitutional, political, and economic factors that contribute to
insecurity in our country, while identifying specific legislative
actions and make practicable recommendations for executive
action.

The Speaker said; “we do not seek and do not have it in our
power to put an end to all conflict. Our responsibility in
government is to ensure that the lives and property of all the
people within Nigeria are safe from the predations of those who use
violence for profit or in service of religious or ethnic
objectives. And to make sure that whosoever raises arms against our
country is served the full measure of justice.

“This Summit is not an avenue for name-calling, for apportioning
blame or absolving responsibility. Our national house is on fire,
and the people we serve rightly expect that we will devote all our
energies and resources to trying to improve the future, rather than
be paralysed in the present, grieving about the errors and failures
of the past.

“It is by the work we do now that we can redeem ourselves and
save our beloved country. This Summit must be, and is solution
driven.

“Our deliberations in this Summit and the recommendations that
emerge therefrom will reflect all the factors that have
precipitated our present circumstances, including issues of
economic fairness, the allocation of state resources, the
deficiencies of our criminal justice system, and the role of
critical national institutions such as the National Assembly, the
Judiciary, and the state and local governments.”

The Speaker announced that the Summit will be conducted behind
closed doors to allow informed stakeholders to engage frankly on
matters of National Security in a protected environment and allow
all stakeholder participate in an exhaustive consideration of
ideas.

He said while the National Assembly will act on and implement
the recommendations from the summit, it will also present the
recommendations to the President for executive action, saying; “Mr.
President has assured me that he will receive and consider the
report, as a good faith contribution by parliament to address a
matter of urgent national importance.”