Stakeholders On Security Commend Obiano’s Vision And Leadership Qualities

                          

Stakeholders and participants at the First Anambra State Stakeholders Security Summit have commended the foresight and vision of the Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano, for convening the Summit which ended in Awka over the weekend. 

 The endorsement is one of the high points of a Communique issued by the stakeholders who include - security chiefs from the Army, Air force, Navy, Police, State Security Service, and Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Civil Defense Corps as well as Vigilante Groups, Legislators, royal fathers’, leaders of thought, religious leaders, community and women leaders etc. at the end of the summit.

The Stakeholders identified provision of adequate security as critical to the realization of the programmes and objectives of the government of Anambra State and praised the focused approach adopted by the Governor, describing it as “a clear indication that the Governor is starting on a good footing and obviously prepared to take up the challenges of leadership.” They also praised the strategy of involving everyone in the Summit to identify and articulate the security issues and proffer comprehensive solution to the challenges. The participants also recognized “the efforts of previous governments in the state particularly those of the immediate past administration in addressing insecurity in the state.”

On how to curb the negative impact of mindless criminal acts which have resulted in the destruction of lives and properties and the relocation of some citizens of the state with adverse effect on the state economy, the stakeholders identified employment creation as very important as well as sports development and capacity building. They advocated that priority attention be given to economic empowerment programmes by setting-up standard skills acquisition centers in the three senatorial zones of the state to provide employment for the youths who were identified as the major group involved in criminal activities.

Secondly the stakeholders recommended the equipping of security operatives with modern digital communication gadgets for surveillance, tracking and criminal identification etc.to enable them stay ahead of the criminals. They also identified the use of crime detection methods like forensic DNA and the need to make the state police emergency response code number very efficient in order to ensure rapid response and quick assistance to citizens in distress.

To curb incessant friction between traditional rulers and Presidents Generals’ of Town Unions, they called for an Operational manual with clear definition of roles and responsibilities of every group or persons involved in security in the 177 communities in the state. The manual will spell out modalities for disbursement of community security funds, constitution of the security committees, control of operational vehicles and other equipment provided for community security. It will also outline a code of conduct for vigilant members to ensure ethical and organized vigilante system, and address other concerns like the welfare of vigilante members and their training.

Having identified funding as one of the challenges of security, the participants agreed that a state Security Trust Fund Agency should be established with proper legislation to make the Agency accountable. Also the summit advised government to workout modalities on how the Agency should generate monthly security funds through public and private partnership.

To achieve the much desired moral rebirth and molding of the child into a responsible and useful member of the society, the participants advocated the reinforcement of moral education in primary and secondary schools as a way of shaping the mindset of future generation of the state and curbing crime. The need for orientation and re-orientation of the child and other members of the society to inculcate healthy values was also highlighted with a call on parents to raise their children in the fear of God. Similarly, participants noted the need for awareness-creation not only for shaping character but also in instilling security consciousness and called on government to take advantage of the mass media and schools in raising security consciousness.

The participants stated emphatically that security is everybody’s business and should not be left for the government alone. They frowned at situations where communal conflicts has prevented coordinated action against criminals and advised communities to maintain an intelligence-based data base for identification and determining antecedents of youths between the ages of 16 and 45; while the Local Government Chairmen will ensure the coordination of the communities and ensure intelligence gathering and regular feedback to state level.

Finally the Communique which was adopted in a unanimously by voice vote of the participants, also called for the immediate review of the law establishing Anambra Vigilante Service to ensure ethical and conventional practices, compliance with acceptable practices in crime detection, prevention, criminal arrest and persecution.