Ozigbo proffers solutions to insecurity, makes case for State Police

By Emma Ogbuehi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 6 Anambra governorship election Valentine Ozigbo, has offered practical solutions to insecurity in Nigeria, identifying political will as being necessary to curb the menace. He listed many strategic options to surmount the rising insecurity in the country, mentioning state police among them.  

Ozigbo made the declaration on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, as the guest lecturer at the 61st Alumni Founders Day held at the University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA) at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The theme of the event was, “National Insecurity: A challenge to national unity and peaceful co-existence”.

Ozigbo, represented by Professor Kay Onyechi, a former Anambra Commissioner for Education who teaches at UNN, acknowledged insecurity as Nigeria’s most crucial issue the country is facing and deserves to be treated as a national priority.

“The lives we live, the businesses we run, the schools we attend, the hospitals we visit, the churches we attend, and the family gatherings we have, all revolve around the security of life and property,” Ozigbo, said.

He added; “Security, or its opposite, insecurity, deserves the attention it is getting and, therefore, the topic for this conference appropriately chosen.

“Especially for me as a person, coming out of a state like Anambra where the issue of security is now topical, where life is fast losing meaning, where criminality is running out of control, there is now an opportunity to address the issue of insecurity wholeheartedly”.

According to Ozigbo, he approaches security in several ways, the first being to address the root cause of crime

“Going down to the root cause of crime, we find that certain economic conditions open the pathway for individuals to adopt a distorted self-image and thereby consider anti-social behaviour as an option,” he explained.

“For the most part, insecurity is directly related to the economic conditions of the people. People who are gainfully employed, people who believe in themselves and a better future, people who see that hard work and diligence offer a sure reward, would hardly devote their time to criminal activities.

Ozigbo argued that to remedy the situation, there is need to give hope to the younger generation and inspire greatness in them. He advocated deliberate efforts to improve the standard of living for the people and make Anambra’s economy more attractive and competitive.

“We must ensure that our society is a place where business can thrive, and when we do these, we will significantly reduce insecurity.

“Another cause of insecurity is poor orientation. Due to certain factors like family background and peer influence, some young people succumb to pressure and choose a life of vices.

“To resolve this, we must emphasise proper upbringing, education, exposure, and teach high moral values. This is why my administration will prioritise education.

“We plan to raise the quality of basic public education to be at par with the best in the world; make it accessible by making it free; then make it compulsory. Every child has a right to quality education”, Ozigbo stressed.

His administration, he pledged will ensure that children receive impactful moral instructions learn the importance of being law-abiding citizens and the consequences of delinquency. 

The second approach, he stated, is to look at the security architecture, adding, “We need to evolve a new and efficient system to tackle crime. Our security agencies need political leadership with the will to do what is necessary for the good of all”.

Intelligence gathering, according to the PDP candidate, is vital for the security personnel, adding that they should be provided with the necessary tools to carry out their lawful duties.

“We must restructure our security architecture and ensure better welfare for our officers. We must also seek partnerships with relevant global stakeholders to learn, improve, and adopt global best practices.

“State police is another way to tackle insecurity. State police will significantly improve local intelligence gathering, and it would spark healthy competition among police formations in different states,” Ozigbo added.

The National President of UNAA, Sir Ben Okonkwo, thanked Ozigbo and wished him well in his gubernatorial bid.

Prof Charles Esimone, the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) served as the Special Guest of Honour while Chief Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), was the chairman of the occasion which attracted several prominent alumni of the prestigious university.