By; USMAN NASIDI, Kaduna
In an effort to seek pragmatic solutions to curtail insecurity issues bedeveling the states of the nation in Nigeria, especially in the Northern region, the Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria (NCMN), has organized a security summit to seek a way forward.
Speaking during the conference themed, “Key Factors Escalating Insecurity; Role Of Leaders And Pragmatic Solutions of NCMN 2022,” on Saturday at Arewa House Kaduna, the main guest speaker, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Mahmud Abubakar Gumi, explained that the issues of insecurity in the country are social problems that can be solved.
He added that, “the insurgency in Nigeria is actually of different kinds and sources, be it insurgency, banditry or in a nutshell, of re-ideology or ethnicity, or regionalism that we don’t rule out the use of power because we have to be in a position of strength, but dialogue we think, if properly employed, will bring peace to the nation.”
Sheikh Gumi further said that it’s not about the leaders to put more military or put more weapons, but rather, what is needed is to bring the warring factions together to put them on a serious dialogue and put them in a situation were they would have confidence and there should be intermediaries people like the Klages who they usually trust to be in between because such feat will bring peace to the country.
“When we have such number of people revolting against the government or the society and you call them criminals or terrorists, you shouldn’t tag them as criminals but instead, you give them that respect, amnesty, educate and empower them because they will do it hence they too also have their families.
“The people that taught you not to negotiate with terrorists are the same people negotiating with their own people and I wonder who are the terrorists among the people who are wretched, not educated and no form of support from the leaders. What is happening in the North East is the same thing that is happening in the North-West, but this time, it is with the Fulani herdsman,” Gumi said.
According to him, what is expected of the government is to abolish the vigilantes we have incorporated, engage them into the Nigeria’s regular Army while the leaders and politicians should become more reliable that their actions speak more than their words but not just doing things for the camera to see.
While speaking, the National President Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Comrade Yerima Shettima explained that under normal circumstances, one should have expected that the issues of resolving insecurity by now could have gone far.
He said, “but it’s obvious that we are not doing enough, either on one side, the government lacks the political will to address the issues or some of us who are of the view that we don’t expect the results under this arrangement and that means my words go to the issue of restructuring for totally centralizing of the security architecture of this country.
“The police, Army and SSS should continue doing their jobs, but I am of the view that we need community policing for effective intelligence gathering to compliment the efforts of the federal security forces, and I think to that extent, with constructive engagement, we can make it halfway, but when we don’t change our patterns and approach to the issues of insecurity, I don’t think we can have an end,” Alhaji Shettima said.
In his remarks, the nation chairman and convener of the NCMN security summit, Comrade Jabir Ibrahim Yaro, expressed gratitude and appreciation to all members, especially their special guest for their undying support to attend their programme and the organizations that contributed towards the success of the event.
Malam Jabir further explained that the mission and vision of the NCMN is centered around building a future where young Nigerians in leadership positions become one and usher into the mainstream the country’s destiny, while the North is their mantra as they clamour for an improved regional development through positive representative and quality leadership.
According to him, the NCMN is a self sponsored movement that will never beg any politician in it affairs in other to maintain and protect the standard of the organization, and reasons why they are calling for the national security summit to ensure the reign of peace and stability in the country.
NCMN called on the government to put more efforts into dealing with insecurity using alternative approach of conflict resolution such as diplomacy, intelligence, improved border control and traditional institutions.
