The news item with the heading Akwa Ibom APC slams Udom over Ukanafun killings, Kidnaps with a rider says it’s a sign of failure of government , extracted from a chat which the ‘Publicity Secretary’ of the All Progressive Congress APC, Mr. Edet Bassey allegedly had with newsmen on Monday, but released on Wednesday through a proxy.
Like their previous attempt at mud smearing, this strike was empty and without steam. But for the purpose of education and proper discourse, may we set out to discuss the issues of security as follows:
1. WHO HAS THE DUTY TO PROVIDE SEURITY FOR THE CITIZENS?
I am amazed that the APC through her ‘Publicity Secretary’ can attempt(though unsuccessfully) to place the task of providing security for the citizens of Nigeria residing in Akwa Ibom State at the door steps of the Governor.
This callous misplacement is very mischievous and disingenuous, emanating either from very ignorant minds or terribly manipulative brains, determined to annoy the citizenry more by attempting to distract them from the current economic misadventure which the APC led federal government has undertaken since May 29, 2015.
Very disturbing is the fact that there is a presumption that the man who in whose name the release is made is a lawyer, therefore he ought to know.
Just in case he and his party may have forgotten, please may I respectfully refer them to Part 1 of the second schedule(exclusive Legislative list) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended)- specifically items 2, 38 and 45 which lists Arms, ammunition and explosives; Military(including any other branch of the Armed Forces of the Federation); Police and other Government security Services established by law, respectively as matters under the exclusive powers of the Federal Government.
The effect of the above legislation is that the provision of security is the sole duty of the Federal Government and nothing more pretentious.
May we further remind that, the constitution having placed the duty on the Federal Government, any other tier of Government cannot be held responsible for the failure of such a duty, but if they make noticeable contributions, they can be applauded.
Take an example with roads- the roads that are designated as federal roads (e.g calabar-Itu road) when there are impassable or bad, is the headache of the Federal Government, but if a state government (like Akwa Ibom State did) decides to repair the road, that government will be commended.
Back to security, the title Chief Security Officer is a ceremonial appellation, as all the heads of the Security agencies domiciled in a state report to the Federal Government, only briefing the state.
However, in Akwa Ibom state, the Governor has made great efforts at providing sufficient logistics support to all the security agencies and mobilizing the citizenry to support them.
Even with the recent happenings in the state, Akwa Ibom still holds the coveted title of the most peaceful state in the country. Ipso facto the best place to lay the blame for insecurity is at the door of the APC Federal Government.
On this score, we appeal to the President to employ more security personnel and motivate them properly to undertake the onerous task of protecting others.
Governor Udom Emmanuel deserves comendation for taking extra steps at aiding the security operatives to do their work. Specifically, when the news of the murder of the Secretary of Ukanafun Transition Committee got to the Governor, he visited the locus criminus immediately in the company of the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Director DSS, Brigade Commander 2 Brigade, Uyo among other security chiefs.
He stopped by the Police Station in Ukanafun and motivated the security operatives, condemning the dastardly act and demanding that all necessary actions be taken to arrest the culprits and return normalcy to the entire state. What else did the APC expect the Governor to do?
2. THE MASS POSTING OF SECURITY OPERATIVES
If the ‘Publicity Secretary’ of the APC has been a member of that party long enough, he would have recalled that immediately after the 2015 elections, the leaders of APC in the state wrote several petitions against top ranking and very critical staff of all the security agencies in the state.
Away from the petition, they facilitated the punitive transfer of more than 95% of the security staff in the hope of a rerun.
What they forgot to do was to reverse the transfer when the rerun did not happen, now the effect of their action stares them in the faces and rather than bravely face it, they are now masquerading.
Or do they think we have forgotten? Please let them explain where in the world, over 95% of the security staffers across ranks are transferred in a fell swoop and new people brought in.
3. APC’S ADMONITION TO THE GOVERNOR
Just yesterday the APC asked that the Governor should emulate his Kaduna State counterpart, who has the worst security record in the country and today they are complaining about security. This is paradoxical and the result of makeshift thinking and illogical content(narrative) development.
4. WHAT SHOULD RATHER CONCERN THE APC
i) The APC in Akwa Ibom should be very concerned with the manifest inability of the Federal Government to effectively handle the killer Fulani herdsmen crisis, that has come very close to us and is giving our people genuine concerns.
ii) The fact that all federal roads leading to Akwa Ibom are almost impassable.
Finally, may I admonish the freshman ‘Publicity Secretary’ to always endeavor to issue his full release before excerpts are taken to make news.
It is standard practice to have the full press text duly signed by you, or issued under your hand (through verifiable personal or official channels not through proxies with questionable characters). This will enable us look at the issues raised therein comprehensively and respond accordingly.
While we are very well ready to continue to shine the light of information for those who seek illumination (irrespective of motive), we frown seriously at very pedestrian and infantile discourse (such as the one that gave rise to this rejoinder) that do not edify the reader nor enrich the intellectual reserves of the society.
Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
People Democratic Party
Akwa Ibom State
Wednesday, April 19,2017
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