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BY SUNNY A. DAVID
It was a gathering of who is who in the nation’s security personnel at the National Security Summit, organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK), Awka Campus.
Deliberating on the theme, “Security and the National Question”, the lead paper presenter, Prof. Aja Akpuru Ajah blamed the current security lapses and threats to the failure of leadership which has remained the Nation’s greatest woe.
According to him, things could work but for the failure of Nigerian leaders to tap from its strength in diversity which world powers like the US, Singapore, etc have exploited to their advantage.
Prof. Aja said that the government has failed to prosecute terrorists and labeled freedom fighting activists as terrorists, thereby neglecting its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians.
He suggested that Nigerians must learn to live in peace and tolerate each other for the Nation to move forward.
In another thought provoking lecture via Zoom, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume called on Nigerian leaders and the led to jettison their differences for National cohesion and integration.
Senator Ndume said that Nigerians should understand that the Nation is operating an illegitimate constitution drawn by the military, and should understand that due process must be followed in the amendment of the Nation’s constitution which can only be legitimised by the National Assembly representing the people.
The Senator noted that the National conference convened by the Jonathan led administration can only gain legitimacy if its recommendations are finetuned by the National Assembly. He therefore expects all Nigerians to join hands in fighting the menace of insecurity in the land.
Speaking during the occasion, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police CP Owolabi frowned at the disturbing abuse of privileges by some criminal elements in the society who break the law with impunity.
He recommended that people who break the law should be put behind bars to serve as a deterrent to others and noted that the family institution should be fortified and the right values inculcated in the upcoming generation for a better society.
The Commissioner of Police described the summit as apt and expects that every right thinking Nigerian must be security conscious to ameliorate the Nation’s security challenges.
In another paper presentation, a cyber security credential practitioner, Princess Mrs. Ngozi Uche spoke on, “Leveraging the Power of Technology for Crime Reduction and Control”.
According to her, technology is the solution to tackle security challenges such as the use of hard and softwares as well as enablers to assist security agencies in their fight against crimes and insecurity.
In a remark, an academic in the faculty, Professor Obi Nwosu noted that no society will excel without security and therefore, expressed delight in the assemblage of security experts from across the country to brainstorm at the summit.
On his part, one of the awardees by the faculty, Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo urged that for the Nation’s security challenges to be minimised, employments should be given to the teeming unemployed in the system.
Dr. Onunkwo further complained of a huge number unemployable graduates roaming the streets and urged university authorities to fight all forms of university “sorting” practices to produce quality graduates that are employable.
At the forum, Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (rtd.) in a keynote address, spoke of the imperatives of National Security and the need for people to be law abiding to minimise the high level of insecurity in Nigeria.
The occasion was graced by the UNIZIK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. U. C. Nwogwugwu, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ndi Obi, Prof. A. U. Nnoyelu of the Faculty of Social Sciences, among other distinguished personalities.
