I am encouraged to do an immediate follow to my earlier piece on this subject because of the commentaries and conversations which followed thereafter. Also to appreciate the commentators who shared similar sentiments on the contents of the piece.
Interestingly, a few hours after the publication of the piece, there was an announcement that the Inspector General of Police IGP) has withdrawn all Mobile Police Officers (MPOL) attached to VIPs.
Although this significant policy pronouncement would have been contemplated before now, the coincidence of it announcement is both cheering and encouraging. I only hope that the policy affects every Nigerian VIP as well as foreign Nationals operating in our environment…
VIPs and their security aides are a recurring embarrassment in any environment and their presence creates a superior Nigerian citizens status on people.
As former President Goodluck Jonattan ( GCFR) said in one of his recent presentations that “ it is easy to wakeup someone sleeping, but difficult to wakeup someone pretending to sleep “ ( words of wisdom). Someone sleeping is actually answering the call of nature ( to rest) while someone pretending to sleep ( of course with his eyes closed) is both a liar and deceit with intentions to cheat.
If these elites calling on Nigerians to “ Defend Yourself “ were actually sleeping, then it is a wake up call but if they are pretending to sleep, then there is a bigger problem on our hands.
I am inclined to see the sincerity of this call from the perspective of the recent policy pronouncemen from the IGP to withdraw MPOLs from all VIPS. This would make it possible for all citizens In Nigeria to interact and move freely within Nigeria without harassment or any form of intimidation. This situation would make it possible for natives of our communities to collaborate with the native authorities to confront emerging security challenges of any dimension.
The thought of the population densities in our native communities in addition to their knowledge of the environment and with adequate weapons at their disposal is sufficient to deter insecurity threats within our communities.
The fear of AK47 being carelessly displayed by security personnel (real and fake) puts the citizens in panic and apprehension.
Anyone seen with such weapons in our communities is an enemy and should be treated as such.
There is no superiority in citizenship classification and any attempt to create one would keep Nigeria and Nigerians in our current insecurity situation if not worst.
Do Nigeria Citizens operating in foreign lands move about in such lands with armed security personnel. ? Why should we encourage such in our country.
Why should security aides attacked to individuals be a status symbol and only to the privileged few ( highest bidder) , sometimes to those with questionable identities or sources of income.
We can still restore the dignity of the Nigerian citizens and our environment if our political leaders and elites are not ‘ pretending to sleep’ over the Nigerian situation.
(Concluded).
Frank Amagwu is a Professor of Micro & Development Finance.
