By Ikenwa Charity
Air Commodore Abayomi Balogun has said that lack of synergy amongst the Nigerian security architecture has led to the challenges in the fight against terrorism.
The former Alpha Jet Pilot, explained that Nigeria can overcome her challenges but not by accident, as most of the challenges have either been formed through collective actions or inactions of Nigerians entirely.
He disclosed this during the launch of his book titled, “Amidst The Chaos And Uncertainties: Nigeria Can Overcome.
The event held at the Nigeria Army War College “themed: Beyond the Current Challenges, Nigeria Can Forge a New Path to Peace Progress and Stability.
While calling for kinetic tactics and diplomatic means of combating insecurity, he urged the government to provide the necessary amenities for the people in the rural areas, as well as security agencies to be more proactive and embark on counter attacks on the enemies of the country.
“For over 10 years, the military have not operated under one command which should be under the Defence Head Quarters, DHQ. This has led to the difficulty of combating terrorism and other criminal activities across the country.
“Nigerians should understand that the fight against terrorism is an all inclusive affair,” he stressed.
He expressed his profound gratitude to God, the chairman of the occasion and all the guests in attendance, maintaining that Nigeria and Nigerians will surely overcome.
In his remark, Chairman of the occasion and Former Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen. Alwali . J. Kazir, highlighted that Nigerians have faced so much since her Independence and require cooperative efforts of both the security agencies and the citizens to combat terrorism and other forms of menace across the nation.
According to him, stability stands as major arsenal against crime, but he however lamented the non-cooperation amongst the echelons of the military, as he differentiated the concept of collaboration and cooperation, which he said the latter is the preferable form of relationship.
He called for some of the ex-service men to be re-integrated into the security architecture, as most of them are still agile even after active service.
On his part, the book reviewer, Air Commodore S.A Zakari, described the piece as a Canon for strategic warfare tactics of all security architectures and the grassroots against insecurity and terrorism.
He gave an analogy of the 12 Chapter text as follow: Talks about the important roles of the general public, the complexity of governance and leadership that devastate peaceful co-existence across the country, Chapter. 2 abject poverty and hunger as major causes of the menace, Chapter. 3 steps by constituent governor of States and the management of resources and human rights, Chapter. 4 talks about the deplorable situation in the ranking systems.
Chapters 5 to 10 highlight: ‘the roles and civic duties of citizens towards nation building and the fraudulent actions of some big state actors, the effects of the anomaly on the system, the role of Military veterans in building the nation, inadequate synergy to combat the insecurity situation, ‘overcoming insecurity in Nigeria/Intervention and Counter Terrorism.
The 11th and 12th chapters discuss the victory over insecurity, saying it is basically for those who create or enforce freedom and ‘The way forward, respectively.
Dignitaries at the event were mostly senior military officers and politicians that included: Lt. General L.O Adeosun (former theatre commander N/East) AVMs (rtd) Ade Adekunle, (A. Idris (rtd), A.A Jekenme, Hon. ( AVM) Adeniyi Ojuawo , Member Representing Ekiti South Federal Consistency who represented the Book Launcher, The Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Commodore Mohammed Barau, Police AIG, Argungu, Navy Capt Manu Yagda (rtd), High Chief Adeyinka Amosu and many other participants at the ground breaking event.
End.
