Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports.
Human rights lawyer Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of “failing to satisfactorily address the country’s insecurity crisis, and doing nothing to end the mismanagement of the economy under his watch.”
This was stated by Falana in a paper titled “Good Governance or Misgovernance: The Contract Called Democracy,” which he delivered at the Abeokuta Club’s 50th anniversary interactive session in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“Despite the centralization of police powers, the Federal Government has continued to argue that the establishment of state police services is unconstitutional,” he says.
“Without a doubt, the Federal Government has grudgingly allowed state governments to establish state or regional security outfits, given the virtual collapse of the neocolonial state’s security architecture.” They are not, however, permitted to bear arms.
“In the face of AK 47-wielding terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, herders, and robbers, regional security personnel armed with cutlasses and dane guns are expected to commit suicide.”
“Given that civilian Joint Task Force operatives are granted licenses to bear arms and ammunition, I have asked state governments to sue the Federal Government for refusing to grant licenses to personnel of regional security outfits for allowing dangerous criminals to breach the constitutional rights of unarmed citizens to life and dignity,” the paper reads in part.
“Furthermore, denying licenses to bear arms to 5,000 state security personnel to protect millions of unarmed citizens while granting licenses to a few individuals to acquire weapons to protect themselves and their family members is discriminatory.”
“Some state governors have expressed concern about the National Security Adviser’s refusal to approve applications for End User Certificates for the importation of Drones to monitor and expose terrorists and kidnappers hiding in forests.”
“With respect, such security sabotage should be challenged in the Federal High Court, because no law gives the National Security Adviser the authority to grant or reject governors’ requests for equipment to secure areas exposed to danger by the Federal Government.”
