Expert advices FG on retired military officers’ think-tank to address insecurity
By Our Correspondent
Alhaji Muhammed Babandede, a former Comptroller-General (CG) of Nigeria Immigration Services, has appealed to the Federal Government to have a think-tank of retired military officers to harness their experiences in addressing the country’s insecurity.
He made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 21st anniversary of the Peace Building Development Consult (PBDC), book launch and award presentations.
The book titled: ’21 Years of Advancing Peace and Security, Reflecting on Progress , Strengthening Commitments and Shaping the Future’ was written by Kayode Bolaji, PBDC Executive Director.
Babandede noted that the military system retired a lot of young men, even after government would have spent so much in training and retraining them.
“Government spends huge amounts of money to train military officers, and you find that some of them are being retired at the age of 50, 55, or even earlier and doing nothing after.
“You need to have a think-tank in every organisation, government needs to harness these high-level people, they are everywhere,”he said.
He further noted that most of the experienced officers left the service simply because their junior became the Chiefs.
“So, they had to go, and they are not being used, we need to harness them to form a think-tank to give advise on ways to address, especially issues of insecurity in the country,
“This is very important, they are not ruling, they are not going to administer, they are not going to take over power, but they are going to contribute their intelligence to government.
“So that government can benefit from what it spent on them. This is my call, and I hope government listens to it,”he said.
The former Comptroller-General,
also advised politicians to desist from dividing the country along religious and ethnic lines.
He noted that in the past, Nigerians related as one in love and unity, irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnic sentiments, saying Muslims lived with their Christian neighbours and just minded their businesses.
He decried politicians, who wanted power, instigating people, using religious and ethnic sentiments to get things done or to avoid losing power, using such strategies to remain relevant in society.
“They always exploit the culture of religion, tribe and culture of sectionalism in order to gain benefits. I call on these politicians and on government, if they are careful to prohibit this.
“Let us prohibit this, let it be a crime for you to rally your people based on religion, tribe, or ethnicity. Let it be a punishable offence,”Babandede said, adding that this would make the society better.
“If we do that, the society will be better, because if there is joy, nobody is enjoying that joy strictly because of religion or culture.
“If there is suffering, nobody is suffering because of religion, culture, or tribe. That’s my call. I hope Nigeria will feel better if we consider this,” he said.
Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and one of the awardees, who was represented at the event by Alhaji Saleh Samanja, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, described the award as a morale booster.
Samanja said the award would spur Buni to continue doing more for the state and its people with the goal of ensuring that normalcy, peace and security is restored in Yobe.
He said that Buni, since assumption of office, had given priority to security of lives and property in the state, working in cohort with security agencies.
He said that relative peace had been restored in Yobe, which according to him, was one of the most peaceful states in country.
“This is made possible because of the support and cooperation being given to security agencies, and the untiring efforts of the Executive Governor of Yobe.
“As Chief Security Officer of the State, Buni feels that he has both moral and legal obligations to support and cooperate with security agencies to achieve maximum peace in Yobe,”Samanja said.
Bolaji, author of the book, said we
can’t develop without peace and we can’t have development without peace.
He added that peace and security were collective responsibility, adding that the PBDC was committed to this and needed the cooperation of all Nigerians.
The event was attended by both serving and retired military generals, traditional rulers, heads of government agencies, political stalwarts and ECOWAS representatives. (https://newsatlarge.ng)