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‘Community Policing, Panacea To Nation’s Insecurity’
A public affairs analyst, Dr Olatunde Amusat, has called on security agencies to adopt local solution to the myriads of security challenges facing the country.
He made the call last Wednesday in Ibadan during the maiden memorial lecture in honour of late federal lawmaker, Temitope Olatoye, who represented Lagelu/Akinyele Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Our correspondent recalled that the late Olatoye, popularly known as ‘Sugar’ was assassinated on Saturday, March 9 at Lalupon area of Ibadan during the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
The lecture, attended by political associates, politicians, friends, beneficiaries and family members of the deceased, was part of activities lined up for the burial of the late Olatoye.
Amusat in his lecture entitled,‘ ‘Sugar’s Death and the Challenges of Leadership Recruitment Process: Matters Arising’ noted that crime was local and could be tackled with local solutions.
He noted that one of the reasons fighting crimes had not been effective in the communities was the obvious denial of the role and impact of community policing.
The public analyst said that community policing allowed people who understood the local environment to participate and take charge of the security responsibilities.
Amusat wondered why Olatoye was killed at the same axis where some notable Nigerians including the former Head of State, Gen Agunyi Ironsi and Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, were killed.
“Lalupon is beginning to gain notoriety, with due respect, as an axis of death. When you interrogate history, this was the same place some notable Nigerians were killed.
“A visiting military head of state in the person of late Gen. Agunyi Ironsi and his host, late Col Adekunle Fajuyi, were both taken into the bush in Lalupon axis and shot.
“And when you do thorough profiling of series of assassinations that have occurred along that axis, you will begin to have a rethink of why Lalupon.
“In my presentation, I must have said why Lalupon more than ten times. Why Lalupon is instructive and very important.
“It is important to the extent that a few years ago, a serving federal legislator was hacked down in the Lalupon axis, just three months into his tenure.
“And years after, another serving federal lawmaker in the person of late Olatoye’s convoy was ambushed and brutally murdered three months to the expiration of his four-year mandate,” he said.
“As an academic, I am trying to interrogate and see whether there is a cosmic nexus that could be established between the two. The question still remains…Lalupon again and why Lalupon,’’ he said.
He stressed the need for community policing as a way of tackling the series of killings in various places across the country.
Amusat said that Nigerians had for decades lived in denial as a people, saying it was difficult for an Igbo-born security agent to be appointed a DPO in Ibadan and function effectively on a strange terrain.
“Community policing is the way out and some people are shy about the issue. I think we are sitting on a keg of gun powder.
“ I am not an alarmist and I am not pressing the panic button, but those people in the position of authority should be alive to their responsibilities,’’ he said.
He narrated his recent ordeal in the hands of kidnappers, adding he was abducted for six days which was exactly 143 hours and 30 minutes.
“I should know because I was a victim of kidnap. I was with my abductors for six days, exactly 143 hours 30 minutes and I wrote an article to narrate my ordeal.
“These people didn’t know me, they knew nothing about me. I was just kidnapped. If care is not taken, the migration from the Sahel is moving gradually into the Southwest and something must be done.
“ I feel we should organize and stop agonising and the time to do that is now. Now to the extents that delay is dangerous. Nigeria can be re-invented.
“Nigeria is not beyond redemption but for it to be reinvented, it has to be re-negotiated,’’ he said.
Mr Dotun Olatoye, the youngest brother of the deceased who spoke on behalf of the family, said the occasion was not to weep, but to celebrate the life and impact of the deceased on people around him.
He described his late brother as an ‘accidental selfless public service holder’ who gave his best to empower people around him.
NAN reports that a lying-in- state c
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.