Emir of Keffi tasks Int’l, national agencies, citizens, as he discloses ways to tame corruption, insecurity in Nigeria

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

In further proof of quality and productivity, the traditional institution in Nigeria has continued to produce leaders, whose wealth of energies and ideas help in true nation building.

Among those quality based traditional leaders, vast in intellectual property of high standard, is Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, the Emir of Keffi and Vice Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers, who has disclosed ways to tame corruption and insecurity in the Africa’s most populous country.

His Royal Highness Dr. Yamusa III made this disclosure in his remarks at an event in commemoration of National Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Insecurity in Nigeria, organised by Anti-corruption Academy (ACAN) and held in the ICPC auditorium, Abuja, as captured in a report by Ibraheem Hamza Muhammad on Sunday September 11, 2022.

According to the Emir, “I am calling on the agency to come up with concrete models towards eradicating electoral corruption and producing a policy brief that will guide the national response to vote buying phenomenon in Nigeria. I urge anti-corruption agency and other security agencies to expose misconduct of staff, as well protect whistle blowers on corruption and insecurity.

“It is necessary to call on the International Anti-Corruption Academy to work in synergy with municipal Nigeria Agency in fostering dialogue to increase awareness and facilitate activities towards preventing and combating corruption and related vulnerable malpractices in our society,” he said.

Speaking at the event themed, “Unending Power Failure in Nigeria” with a key point on fight against corruption, Emir Shehu Yamusa III, a holder of Ph.D in Energy Law and specialist in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development from reputable university abroad, asked questions that, if acted upon, supply solution to the national problem.

“In the matter of national security, are we all secured? How secured is Nigeria`s economy? Do the country have a secured organisational structure? Is the chance of external attack on us negligible?” The Emir asked, suggesting that a proactive national conference be organised to come up with preventive measures it deserves to halt situation, which has caused both economic and social paralysis in Nigeria.

He called on Nigerians to work with relevant security agencies towards achieving the vision to make Nigeria a more safe, just, peaceful, prosperous and strong nation. That was even as he commended the National Security Adviser, (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), for being dogged and patriotic in attaining a justifiable feat on national security.

Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III wished the NSA strength in discharging his primary responsibility in ensuring that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligent Agency (NIA) and Department of State Services (DSS) have quality assurance in their formations.

“I am optimistic that this assembly on National Policy Dialogue will not only produce a policy brief based on the subject matter, but will serve as a guide in the conduct of national security and nailing all forms of corrupt practices.

“On the role of traditional and religious leaders in tackling corruption and insecurity challenges in Nigeria. I urge my colleagues to support the implementation of the policy framework and national action plan for preventing and countering all forms of corrupt practices and issues threatening national security,” said the Emir of Keffi.

In his own speech, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, who is Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC ), said: “At face value, insecurity is seen to be, and is sometimes treated as a matter requiring only a military response or reaction, but an in depth look into its possible root cause(s) shows that corruption is a major contributory factor to the continued existence and propagation of insecurity in the country.

“In fact, a clinical diagnosis of the insecurity menace in the country reveals that to effectively combat insecurity we require the collaborative efforts of security agencies (the military, intelligence, Police, Customs, Prisons, others), as well as Law Enforcement and Anti-Corruption Agencies.

“ICPC’s research and investigation findings on the subject matter show that public sector corruption, directly and indirectly, enables insecurity, and can sometimes complement it.

“Cases of job racketeering abound in the security sector, many of which are under investigation by the ICPC.

“Part of our interrogation today is why has this proactive effort not translated into commensurate effectiveness in the war against insurgency and insecurity and despite the gallant and sacrificial effort of our soldiers, policemen and other security operatives working daily to secure Nigerians.

Also speaking, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the National Assembly was looking into the possibility of anti-corruption law to stop illicit financial flows suspected to be funding routes for insecurity in Nigeria.

He said: “Insecurity has placed an enormous demand on our country’s human and material resources, particularly the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast and banditry in the Northwest.

“Several other security challenges have since emerged afterwards. We have been faced with cattle rustling and farmer herder clashes in the middle belt, secessionist agitations in the South East, militancy in the south-south, some of these have now spilled over to other parts of the country.

“The span of these security challenges have profoundly tasked this administration and indeed the nation, and stretched our security and law enforcement apparatus which remains determined and has withstood these challenges with utmost gallantry. But as I have always said, the challenges of our security infrastructure are the concern of all of us and not just of those in government alone.”