By ABDULLAI TONY DANIA
Apart from the current JAMB exams, there is a court judgment that annulled the restriction of movement and declares it illegal and unconstitutional. Lagos State was the very 1st state in Nigeria that initiated the monthly general cleaning exercise, which restricted the movement of persons for some hours every last saturday of the month. That was why the monthly environmental sanitation exercise was abolished in Lagos State.
The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment. It subsist and has not been overturned.
I am not in a party based politics. I support a candidate of my choice based on objective analysis of his or her profile. I spend my own money to support the candidate. I am not begging for any contract or appointment, I will rather make a proposal on self-generative and self-financed profitable economic ventures that will impact positively on the people generally, creat jobs and jobs opportunities, without the Govt putting a penny, but which would definitely require the approval and official support of the Govt.
I campaigned, supported, and voted for the current Gov of Edo State. I did the same for Hon. Gani Akokhia, who is currently a vocal member of the Edo State HOA. Both of them are doing very well. I shall, Insha Allah, support them again, for their next tenors, EXCEPT, GOD FORBIDS, IF EITHER OF THEM COMMITS CONSPICOUS WRONGS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY AGAINST THE INTEREST OF THE MASSES OF EDO STATE, AND DELIBERATELY REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SAID WRONGS, THEN, I SHALL DO TO HIM,THE SAME THING I DID AGAINST EX-GOV OBASEKI!!
I WAS ON CHANNELS AND TVC AND I CALLED OUT OBASEKI, CALLED OUT THE THEN AG of Edo Stat. I OPENLY CANPAIGNED FOR THE CURRENT GOV OF EDO STATE.
THE VICTORY OF THE GOV AT THE TRIBUNAL, ATTEST TO HIS POSITIVE POPULARITY. HE MUST, I REPEAT, HE MUST SUSTAIN THAT POPULARITY BY DELIVERING GOOD AND IMPACTIVE GOVERNANCE IN THE STATE.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE ABOVE, THE CURRENT GOV OF EDO STATE IS DOING VERY WELL IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE STATE, BUT I NOTICED THAT SOME OF HIS APPOINTEES MIGHT BE THE ISSUES!!
ON SECURITY. ALL HANDS MUST BE ON DECK!! I WAS THE ONLY RIGHT ACTIVIST THAT OPENLY CRITICISED THE APPOINTMENT OF EX-CP IBADIN AS THE HEAD: EDO STATE SECURITY NETWORK, (ESN), BEFORE HIS REMOVAL, AFTER THE UROMI INCIDENT. I AM NOW CALLING ON HIS EXCELLENCY TO CONSIDER THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF BALOGUN of the same ESN; AND TO ALSO REMOVE OR CALL THE CURRENT SA ON SECURITY, TO ORDER!!
It is risky to be too partisan in the appointment of persons in an administration, particularly on security matters. The ex-Gov of Rivers State was, and he is still a leader in PDP, but he is the minister of the FCT Abuja.
Security is not about political jamboree or boisterous noise. There must be a synergy of the military, police, DSS, all the para-military agencies, Edo Security Network, vigilantes, and the people, generally. Security strategies are not traded on public discuss, because positive deterrent psychological propaganda may also be deployed to address a situation. The "physical show of unity and strength" is a typical regular example. The ESN has been polarised. We need to immediately arrest and redress the drift.
The security situation is getting worse by the day, but it can still be arrested and effectively curtailed. We must rise up to it now and confront it frontal and effectively, but we must act within the armpits of the law at all times.
Edo State should, as a matter of urgency, coordinate legal matters such that anything legal must pass through the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for justice. Samson Osagie shd be more proactive and vibrant. What we currently have is an uncoordinated confusion. I suggest that the Gov should issue an executive order to all ministries, parastatals, appointees, security persons, that if they deliberately violates the law or rights of any person or take any legal decision or action without passing through the office of the AG, they shall bear the consequences and also pay for all the consequential costs and logistics, personally.
I am surprise and rather disappointed that our elites and rich sons and daughter from the northern part of Edo State have not come together to improve on the efforts some of them have invested on the security structure in the recent past, in Edo north, particularly in the Etsakos.
I also want to advise our Royal Father, the Oba of Benin, to set up and institutionalised a sustainable arrangement to address kingship issues, prevent violent escations, resolve the issues with truth, amicably and traditionally, and advise the Gov accordingly.
I also want to plead with the current CJ of Edo State, (I am among the many that benefitted from the good deeds of HIS Lordship Father, who was too nice to so many faults), to direct a speedy hearing of all cases relating to Chieftaincy and kingship matters in Edo State.
Finally, I strongly suggest that the Gov should allow the DSS to discreetly and speedily check and advise on the appointments of persons to man any part of the security structure in Edo State, set up a joint security committee to be headed by the CP; while similar committees shall be set up at the senitorial districts to be headed by the most senior ACP among the Police Area Commands within the district.
The ESN should be overhauled, trained, properly profiled, properly employed, personal insurance provided for operatives, official ID cards issued, (I can advise on a pay-back insurance scheme), proper orientation and lectures should be given to them, particularly in some aspects of law and human rights (I can do that FREE OF CHARGE, SEEMLESSLY).
The commanders of sectors of the ESN within Edo State and the chairmen of existing vigilantes should be amicably reconciled and merged. Arms and munitions supplied and properly monitored via accountability and regular checks and auditting, kits, long radius walking talky, phones, airtime and data, "good" remuneration, should be provided.
A standing dispute resolution and disciplinary committee for prompt amicable resolutions of fractions or dispute and discipline of ESN personnel on a factual and objective basis should be set up. Govt should provide logistics in strict, corrupt-free, and "uncompromisable" ways and without the usual bottle neck protocols that will get to the operatives directly and in good time, too.
Other strategies and modus operandi that will boast the security operations in Edo State shall be very treated and discussed in strict confidentiality. I have a few suggestions in that regard, if consulted. Then, there must be regular meetings at the state, Senitorial, and local Govt levels.
The 3 senators in the state, the Honarable member, representing each constituency at the Edo State HOA, and the Chairmen and Secretaries of each local Govt Council, should be involved in enhancing the implementation of security action plan, but they must refrain from partisan politics, and, naturally, they come under the Gov of the state. Nobody should be made to be treated as if he or she is above the law.
The prosecution of criminals in court is a very serious issue. Same with the delays in the trial of cases. It is very frustrating. The "compromises" are alarming, too. The Gov will need to meet with both the CJ and the AG on this. But if there is no evidence or competent prosecution personnel, and if there are no adequate provisions of logistics for the personnel or if the presiding Judge or Magistrate is incompetent or lazy, the criminals will always find their way back to the society to continue their criminal activities.
Nothing can justify jungle justice or mob lynching, but the Govt must take steps to address issues that cause frustration and illegal actions. There should be at least 2 lawyers (competent and experienced ones) to be engaged in each local Govt Area who shall work with the office of the State DPP to vet casefiles, render advice, and prosecute cases.
Thanks for reading. If it makes sense to you, pls forward it to as many persons as you can until it gets to the current Gov of Edo State. I've made my suggestions within the limits of my experience and knowledge. I am willing to bow to a better idea from any person, and I shall appreciate objective comments or criticism, too.
Thank you.
CHIEF ABDULLAI TONY DANIA ESQ
LL.B. BL. LL.M, NP OF THE FRN. 08033042057
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