Security Votes in Nigeria: A Desideratum for Security or Recipe for Corruption*

Abstract

Without doubt, insecurity is one of the fundamental and notorious challenges facing Nigeria, the most populous nation in the continent of Africa.  The problem has grown in proportion, sophistication and gravity especially with provincial militia groups mutating with no restraint. The emergence of the monstrous, ferocious invidious and blood –thirsty organization called Boko-Haram[1] has alarmingly aggravated the situation.

Perhaps not unexpectedly, the security challenge in Nigeria has dominated public discourse and tasked the energies of security operatives as well as the nation’s resources beyond the imagination of perceptive observers. Indeed the growing insecurity in Nigeria has not only attracted negative attention to the country but made it become a country of interest.  To demonstrate the monstrosity of the situation, only recently, the erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan wrote for congressional approval of one billion dollars for equipment upgrade to help combat the menace of Boko Haram.[2]

It is fair however, to immediately concede that insecurity, especially internal one, is a global problem.  Thus, the advanced technologies and democracies face varying degrees of insecurity. However, the difference between those other countries and Nigeria is that in Nigeria, there is no visible or demonstrable capabilities, patriotic zeal, political will, effective strategies and commitment to combat, degrade, destroy and defeat the monster of insecurity.

Without doubt, the need for adequate security in any society cannot be over-emphasized as there can be no meaningful development in an atmosphere of insecurity. Thus, it has been observed that “security is a desideratum for achieving… developmental goals.”[3] At domestic and international levels, the need for adequate security is not only recognized but well documented.  For instance, at the international level, the United Nations as far back as 1945 committed itself:

“To maintain international peace and security, and to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment and settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.[4]

To demonstrate its commitment and fidelity to the promotion of world peace, the UN established the Security Council in Article 23 and charged it with the “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.[5] In pursuance of this mandate, the UN has embraced multi-faceted peace programmes including peacemaking, peace keeping, peace-enforcement and peace building.

Dr. Jacob Abiodun Dada, LL.B (Hons); B.L; LL.M; PhD; A.DRI; Associate Professor of Law & Ag. Head, Private Law Department, Faculty of law University of Calabar, Calabar.

[1] Boko Haram, officially called Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, is a militant Islamic fundamentalist organization which forbids western education and has waged relentless terrorist attacks on many states in the Northern part of the country, notably, Yobe, Bornu, Adamawa and Kano killing, maiming and kidnapping scores of civilians. Many soldiers have also been killed and territories captured by this militant Islamic sect.

[2]. See, Punch Newspaper, 17 July, 2014. Available at www.punchng.com/..president-seeks-1b.. This request is in addition to 968 billion naira budgeted to fight the insurgent group in the 2014 Appropriation Act. See, Vanguard, May 24, 2014, available at www.vanguardngr.com last accessed on 5/5/2015.

Article 1, Charter of the United Nations, singed on 26 June, 1945 in San Francisco at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organizations.  The Charter came into force on 24 October, 1945

[3] Eme Okechukwu I. & Anyadike, Nkechi, “Security Challenges And Security Votes in Nigeria”, 2008-2013, Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, Vol. 2, No. 8; April, 2013 at 25.

[4] Article 1(1)

[5] Article 24