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A University Don, Professor Mahmud Sakah Saidu Mahmud has advocated for traditional knowledge based intervention and proper synergy among all level of government to effectively tackle security challenge facing the country.
Professor Mahmud made the observations at first Lafiagi Emirate Security Summit, Organised by Lafiagi Descendants Development Union, titled “Insecurity in Nigeria: Securing Kwara North.”
Professor of Political Science and International Studies, said “Insecurity is a global problem but some countries respond to insecurity more effectively than others. Likewise, within a single country some communities perform better than others in combating insecurity, saying many factors make a difference whether insecurity is handled successfully or not”
Talking on solutions to insecurity in Nigeria, he said “Nigeria governments always take the high approach without looking at local and traditional solutions, Nigerians always look at high politics from the national government. Most people believe that insecurity can only be solved by the national government. But traditional political systems are still well-regarded and respected by the citizens”
“In relation to security therefore the traditional institutions must be supported by the government. There are no leaders who understand their people more than the traditional rulers. The government must listen to them and the state must see them as partners rather than subordinates in fighting insecurity”
“National and the State governments are still very important because there is much that state governments can do. The governors are the security chiefs of their respective states and have the Commissioner of Police and state SSS to work with. Governors also have security allocations that they can use to assist the national government through the traditional rulers. As custodians of their people and culture, Traditional rulers (if given a chance and role) can apply their traditional wisdom in many cases to stem down the insecurity in the nation”
“There should be constant dialogue between the state government and the traditional leaders”
Narrowing it down to Kwara North, Professor Mahmud said “poverty is a major cause. Most of Kwara North is rural and suffers from rural poverty as in many similar situations. Along with the poverty is high level of unemployment. Kwara north is without any industries and rely on agriculture for a living. Most youth who cannot be gainfully employed in the agriculture sector and yet there are no paying jobs. They are easily potential agents of insecurity”
“What distinguishes Kwara North from the rest of the state is tha prevalence of poverty in the area. There are hardly any institutions of higher learning tertiary Institution in Kwara North even after fifty-something years as a member of the state. We must therefore praise the founders of Ahman Pategi University, Pategi. Before the university was established, there is only the College of Education (Technical). here in Lafiagi. The hope that the Taman Mote University campus at Hesha Baruba would be functioning by now is lost. Yet Kwara North is half of the landmass of Kwara State. The educational sector must improve so youth will be gainfully employed”
“On another score, poverty in the region makes more citizens from the Baruten and Kaiama axis to frequent the Republic of Benin for medical care because there are no standard hospitals or even clinics in the area”
“Another distinctive characteristic of Kwara North is the international boundary it share with the Republic of Benin. Those who engage in boundary studies know that boundary communities are the poorest of the poor, It is a fact that nations often neglect the border areas even though they are important for sovereignty. This neglect has neglect underdevelopment make many youths to engage in illegal trade in drugs and arms trafficking. This is as serious threat to security”
“The international border communities must be studied and incorporated into the sicurity outfit of Nigeria. It is therefore heart-warming to listen to the Senator from Kwara North. Alhaji Omar, about a week ago proposing the establishment of an Institute for Border Studies, at Kosubosu. We should wish him all the success”
Explaining what Police is doing to prevent infiltration of bandits from neighbouring Niger state, State Police Commissioner Tuesday Assayomo who was represented by DPO Lafiagi, Mathew Fabiyi, said “Commissioner has approved operation stop and search in border areas and we have been getting support of the community stakeholders in carrying out this operation”
The Police boss, however urged government and management of the College of Education (Technical) Lafiagi to complete perimeter fencing of the school, saying doing that will further make the school more safer.
Another discussant, Dr. Barakat Ibrahim, who is a senior lecturer at the College of Education, Lafiagi also drew the attention of the security agencies to another critical problem facing farmers in Lafiagi and its environs said our people are predominantly farmer and farm produce theft is another serious problem that we urged our security agencies to help us look into, the rate of farm produce theft is becoming unbearable to our farmers.
Giving his remarks and solution to insecurity and youths restiveness, the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu suggested idea of ‘trust fund’ by private organisations and wealthy individuals “Insecurity is everyone business and unemployment is one of major causes of insecurity, noting that it is obvious that government alone can not create employment and tackle insecurity, this is where private organisations and wealthy individuals have to come in through the establishment of ‘Trust Fund’ to be manage by private people of high character”
The Emir, also called on the parents to always give proper parental training to their wards, and implored the youths to imbibe habit of deploying dialogue in pressing home their demands from government said violence can never achieve anything good, it would rather add to numerous problems facing the country.
The traditional ruler, therefore promised to review papers presented by different resource persons and security agencies and see to anyone that can be implemented at community level and in collaboration with government to further strengthen peace and stability in Lafiagi, Kwara North and entire state.
Among security agencies that graced the summit were DSS, Civil Defense, NDLEA and Local Vigilante.
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