Mojola Peters writes on the need for the Police, DSS and the NSCDC to latch on to the momentum of change occasioned by the advent of a new government.
In the build up to the politicking that shaped the 2015 general elections in 2014, the controversy generated by the police barring of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, from the National Assembly Complex had cast a dark shadow on the Force.
The refusal of the then Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to address Hon. Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives had presented the police as a biased moderator.
Ironically, however, the conduct of the police during the elections belied the presumption of Nigerians as the force was professional in its conduct and very instrumental to the success of INEC.
Yet, the same can rarely be said of the Department of State Services that left series of allegations in its trail with its conduct in the build up to the elections. It would be recalled that the SSS raided the information centre of the then opposition APC and confiscated materials with the allegation that the centre was illegally producing fake voters’ card.
But after investigation that lasted for weeks, the DSS reported that the outcome of their investigation revealed that the APC was planning to inflate its membership data and then hack into INEC’s database.
Expectedly, the DSS would prosecute those found wanting in the law court after the investigation as the APC through its spokesperson, Lai Mohammed said. But little was heard about the issue in the public dormain. The public was appalled by the conduct of the secret security organization. While some Nigerians were left wondering whether the modus operandi of the DSS has changed, others concluded that the security service compromised in its discharge of duty.
Instructively, it is not a matter of debate that the internal security of a country is the cornerstone of development. Little would be achieved if those charged with this sacred assignment of safeguarding the lives of the citizens are unprofessional and dispense their duty with prejudice.
In the face of a new government, institutions responsible for internal security must ensure that this sacred duty is carried out with all diligence.
There is little doubt about the achievements of the NSCDC in last few years. With the purposeful leadership of the Commandant General, Dr. Ade Abolurin, the corps has progressed from a paramilitary safeguarding the common assets and property of Nigeria government with bare hands to a formidable security outfit equipped to tackle oil bunkerers and vandals of government installations across the country.
The corps has been able to make the officers and men of the force the envy of other security agencies charged with internal security with the introduction of Counter Terrorism, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and the debuting of the SWAT Units in the organization.
However much as the leadership of the NSCDC has always campaigned against corruption, the force cannot boast of an absolutely corruption-free outfit. The onus now lies on the leadership to tackle corruption within the rank and file.
The police too must also rise up to the task of ensuring that the country is rid of crime.
It must be said that loyalty to the government in power should be sacrosanct. The Force must dispense its responsibility with recourse to its conscience and absolute professionalism.
The alleged presence of the former IG Sulaimon Abba at the presentation of Certificate of Return to General Muhammadu Buhari and his vice by the Independence National Electoral Commission at the International Conference Center did not depict a good image and loyalty to the government in terms of the apolitical nature expected.
It is of credit to the force leadership that the new IG, Solomon Arase, reiterated the ban on road blocks across the country. This stand, as it is applauded by Nigerians must be enforced in all commands of the force nationwide.
While the police must ensure that their duty is rendered with conscience and professionalism, the Department of State Services should retrace it step back to the basis of its foundation.
Gone are the days when the service was known to be a discreet organization with the easy blend of its operatives and the general population. It is unfortunate that some operatives of the State Security Services now adorn uniforms and camouflage.
The service must remain an underground operative organization as it was supposed to be. The DSS should retrace its steps back to its duties and not meddle into politics. Men of the organization should be remember that their duty is to serve the country without prejudice.
Nigerians craved for change and now the change is here, security operatives must fall in line and ensure that their duties are carried out with utmost respect for the dignity of Nigeria and Nigerians.
