A COUNTRY WITHOUT A THRIVING POLICE FORCE IS DANGEROUS - THE NEED TO MOTIVATE NIGERIAN POLICE OFFICERS
November 7, 2020 | News
Without a doubt, with all that has happened in the last few weeks with the End-SARS protests and the crises situation that came with it, which led to the destruction of police stations and attacks/mobbing of police officers across different parts of the country;
A COUNTRY WITHOUT A THRIVING POLICE FORCE IS DANGEROUS - THE NEED TO MOTIVATE NIGERIAN POLICE OFFICERS
Without a doubt, with all that has happened in the last few weeks with the End-SARS protests and the crises situation that came with it, which led to the destruction of police stations and attacks/mobbing of police officers across different parts of the country; there is urgent need for the Federal and various State Governments and Legislators in the country to sort of reach out and reaffirm the governments' commitment towards helping the nation's Police Force to re-motivate the Officers and make them stay committed towards their work of providing security across the country.
This was reiterated recently by a Lagos lawmaker, Mojisola L. Meranda (Chief Whip Apapa I), as she noted the need for a reconciliation process initiated by the Nigerian Government, to reach out to Nigerian Police Officers. In her words: "Presently, Nigerian Police Officers are like orphans because nobody seems to be talking about them after all that has happened... The cause for the protests was more because of them, so that they would have a better living. But unfortunately it was hijacked and things got out of hand. So, we need to reach out to the Police Officers through their Police Commands. They are presently going through serious trauma and torture in the past days and weeks... They need to be motivated. They need to be reassured to come out and see reasons for them to continue to do this job. We cannot do it ourselves."
Truth is, if this is not addressed by the Federal Government as soon as possible, the country will be in a great danger. A country without a thriving, functional and reliable police force is very dangerous, scary and unhealthy for economic growth. Who will enforce the law and order if the Police are not there and motivated to work?
Unless the Federal Government desires to encourage lawlessness in the country, they need to act fast and precisely on this matter. The present situation with the country's police force is not a good signal at all. If cars are snatched, who are the security authorities to report to? If armed robbers should raid anywhere, and no security authority to report to, what would be the fate of the poor people concerned? What happens if people are kidnapped and no security authority to report to, or is not willing to act on the case because of lack of motivation? Is that not a society that is heading towards anarchy?
Will any business investor and people risk investing in such a society that is without a thriving Police Force? Shouldn't there be law and order for any business to thrive? How is the Government at all levels treating the Police Officers that are meant to ensure this law and order in our society.
Evidently, President Muhammadu Buhari's failure to address this issue, even in his long awaited first speech after the protests, is already raising a lot of uncertainties, confusion and apprehension in the polity. This is not a good development, which urgently needs to be addressed holistically.
Zik Gbemre.
November 7, 2020
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Without a doubt, with all that has happened in the last few weeks with the End-SARS protests and the crises situation that came with it, which led to the destruction of police stations and attacks/mobbing of police officers across different parts of the country; there is urgent need for the Federal and various State Governments and Legislators in the country to sort of reach out and reaffirm the governments' commitment towards helping the nation's Police Force to re-motivate the Officers and make them stay committed towards their work of providing security across the country.
This was reiterated recently by a Lagos lawmaker, Mojisola L. Meranda (Chief Whip Apapa I), as she noted the need for a reconciliation process initiated by the Nigerian Government, to reach out to Nigerian Police Officers. In her words: "Presently, Nigerian Police Officers are like orphans because nobody seems to be talking about them after all that has happened... The cause for the protests was more because of them, so that they would have a better living. But unfortunately it was hijacked and things got out of hand. So, we need to reach out to the Police Officers through their Police Commands. They are presently going through serious trauma and torture in the past days and weeks... They need to be motivated. They need to be reassured to come out and see reasons for them to continue to do this job. We cannot do it ourselves."
Truth is, if this is not addressed by the Federal Government as soon as possible, the country will be in a great danger. A country without a thriving, functional and reliable police force is very dangerous, scary and unhealthy for economic growth. Who will enforce the law and order if the Police are not there and motivated to work?
Unless the Federal Government desires to encourage lawlessness in the country, they need to act fast and precisely on this matter. The present situation with the country's police force is not a good signal at all. If cars are snatched, who are the security authorities to report to? If armed robbers should raid anywhere, and no security authority to report to, what would be the fate of the poor people concerned? What happens if people are kidnapped and no security authority to report to, or is not willing to act on the case because of lack of motivation? Is that not a society that is heading towards anarchy?
Will any business investor and people risk investing in such a society that is without a thriving Police Force? Shouldn't there be law and order for any business to thrive? How is the Government at all levels treating the Police Officers that are meant to ensure this law and order in our society.
Evidently, President Muhammadu Buhari's failure to address this issue, even in his long awaited first speech after the protests, is already raising a lot of uncertainties, confusion and apprehension in the polity. This is not a good development, which urgently needs to be addressed holistically.
Zik Gbemre.
November 7, 2020
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes