Eminent Nigerians have intensi-
fied calls on the Federal Govern-
ment to find a lasting solution to
the spate of insecurity in the country.
They warn that failure to do so may
spell a doom to the corporate existence
of the country.
Speaking last Thursday at the 12th
edition of the Anthony cardinal Okogie
Annual Lecture with the theme, ‘Secu-
rity of Life and Property: A Prerequisite
for Peaceful Coexistence –The Roles of
the State and the Church’, renowned
human rights lawyers, Femi Falana,
SAN, said much still needs to be done
in curbing terrorism in the country.
He condemned the deployment of
the military in internal security, saying
such runs contrary to Section 217 of
the constitution.
While noting with dismay that
crimes of banditry and kidnapping
have increased across the country, he
described as unfortunate the alleged
move by some Northern governors ne-
gotiating with kidnappers and bandits
and even extending amnesty to them.
He equally wondered why a group like
Maiti Allah has not been proscribed,
despite series of reports against their
activities.
Falana believes strongly that part of
the ways of building a stronger nation
is to ensure that only capable and re-
sult-oriented leaders are elected into
public offices. He warned that policing
can only be effective with local intelligence and called for the scrapping of
the colonial structured policing the
country is operating.
On his part, Anthony Cardinal Oko-
gie in whose honour the lecture was
organized, warned politicians against
using of religion to cause division in
the country. He said it was evil to use
religion as a tool for destabilizing
the polity. He also called for better
funding of education, which he said
was the future of Nigeria.In his key-
note address at the ceremony which
was graced by top hierarchies of the
church, the Episcopal vicars, top top
government officials and captains of
industry, the Metropolitan Archbish-
op of Lagos, Most Rev Alfred Adewale
Martins, noted that insecurity remains
a big threat to peace in the country
While noting that security is everyone’s
business, he charged all Nigerians to join
hands in the task of safeguarding lives
and properties. “All hands must be on
deck to secure this nation, the church
inclusive,” he said.
