 |
| Prof Adedoyin |
Community
policing best tool to tackle insecurity – Don
policing best tool to tackle insecurity – Don
Jamiu Ola
Adedoyin is a Professor of Law, a seasoned administrator and present Dean,
Faculty of Law at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK). In this interview with DOMINIC AKPENSUEN, the
don says government must trace the missing link to the way Native Authority
managed security in Nigeria before the advent of colonial masters and sundry
issues.
Adedoyin is a Professor of Law, a seasoned administrator and present Dean,
Faculty of Law at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK). In this interview with DOMINIC AKPENSUEN, the
don says government must trace the missing link to the way Native Authority
managed security in Nigeria before the advent of colonial masters and sundry
issues.
How can you
assess Nigeria’s security situation?
assess Nigeria’s security situation?
Security
issue in Nigeria is definitely a great problem, but my take is that we have not
got it right; to be precise, before the
coming of the colonial masters, the various ethnic societies had their own
security arrangements. But when the Europeans came, they had to abolish the
local security and introduced their own type of security system, which we have
today, and their security system and structure have taken us to the problem
that we find ourselves today.
issue in Nigeria is definitely a great problem, but my take is that we have not
got it right; to be precise, before the
coming of the colonial masters, the various ethnic societies had their own
security arrangements. But when the Europeans came, they had to abolish the
local security and introduced their own type of security system, which we have
today, and their security system and structure have taken us to the problem
that we find ourselves today.
How can you
access INEC and the judiciary?
access INEC and the judiciary?
As a
professor of Law, the judiciary has tried its best, and as far as electoral laws
are concerned, the judiciary has tried to uphold everything containing in the
electoral laws. But before our electoral
laws, INEC was doing very well.
professor of Law, the judiciary has tried its best, and as far as electoral laws
are concerned, the judiciary has tried to uphold everything containing in the
electoral laws. But before our electoral
laws, INEC was doing very well.
The question is, who is saddled with the
responsibility to interpret the law? We have three arms of government: the
Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Looking at the judiciary from
1979 to 1993 and the aborted Third Republic, there had been the issue of
qualification before one could stand for election. INEC had some form of power
to decide on candidate’s qualification. But with the coming of the electoral
laws, most issues bordering on qualification are channelled to the
judiciary. Before 1999, those who
contested for elective positions but had issues against them, were channelled
to INEC, because INEC was in charge. Now
issues concerning qualification and disqualification are being given to
political parties. So if there is
anything wrong with that it is the court that will decide on the matter. Whether an individual is qualified or not qualified,
the electoral body has no say. The only
option left for it is to obey court orders.
responsibility to interpret the law? We have three arms of government: the
Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Looking at the judiciary from
1979 to 1993 and the aborted Third Republic, there had been the issue of
qualification before one could stand for election. INEC had some form of power
to decide on candidate’s qualification. But with the coming of the electoral
laws, most issues bordering on qualification are channelled to the
judiciary. Before 1999, those who
contested for elective positions but had issues against them, were channelled
to INEC, because INEC was in charge. Now
issues concerning qualification and disqualification are being given to
political parties. So if there is
anything wrong with that it is the court that will decide on the matter. Whether an individual is qualified or not qualified,
the electoral body has no say. The only
option left for it is to obey court orders.
Why are
Nigerians clamouring for community policing
Nigerians clamouring for community policing
The issue of
state policing should be encouraged because there is no way we can do away with
it. In fact, it is the reason why the current state of insecurity has gone to
where it is now. If a particular
community brings in a security officer who is not familiar with the community,
such person has to enquire from members of the community before starting his or
her work. But if you involve people from
the community that know every nook and cranny of the community and know the
community members, he can get to the roots of security matters.
state policing should be encouraged because there is no way we can do away with
it. In fact, it is the reason why the current state of insecurity has gone to
where it is now. If a particular
community brings in a security officer who is not familiar with the community,
such person has to enquire from members of the community before starting his or
her work. But if you involve people from
the community that know every nook and cranny of the community and know the
community members, he can get to the roots of security matters.
What should
government do to check the rising crime waves?
government do to check the rising crime waves?
It is not
that government has failed. Looking at the police in particular and their
number in relation to the population of Nigeria, which is about 200 million,
security personnel are inadequate. So
government has to balance the equation.
The federal government has to recruit more police personnel. The current
recruitment is not coping with the demand of the society. The Nigeria Police
have done their best, so what they need now is the complementing efforts of
state police.
that government has failed. Looking at the police in particular and their
number in relation to the population of Nigeria, which is about 200 million,
security personnel are inadequate. So
government has to balance the equation.
The federal government has to recruit more police personnel. The current
recruitment is not coping with the demand of the society. The Nigeria Police
have done their best, so what they need now is the complementing efforts of
state police.
What advice
do you have for those calling for the sack of security chiefs?
do you have for those calling for the sack of security chiefs?
Nigerians
are calling for the sack of security chiefs, but I think there is no way the
security chiefs can leave now because we are in the period of war. There is no part of the country that is not
experiencing insecurity. We only know
that insecurity in the North-East is very high because of the insurgency. The South-South is just recovering from its
own experience. The South-West have with
their own. And it is not only insurgency
that is troubling the country. There are armed robbery, kidnapping and all
manner of social vices. Although, I am not of the opinion that the chiefs
should not be changed, but I don’t call for their removal now.
are calling for the sack of security chiefs, but I think there is no way the
security chiefs can leave now because we are in the period of war. There is no part of the country that is not
experiencing insecurity. We only know
that insecurity in the North-East is very high because of the insurgency. The South-South is just recovering from its
own experience. The South-West have with
their own. And it is not only insurgency
that is troubling the country. There are armed robbery, kidnapping and all
manner of social vices. Although, I am not of the opinion that the chiefs
should not be changed, but I don’t call for their removal now.
How can
traditional institution be put to best use?
traditional institution be put to best use?
I have said
it earlier that it was the influence of the colonial masters that let us into
where we are now and what we are experiencing today.
it earlier that it was the influence of the colonial masters that let us into
where we are now and what we are experiencing today.
