By Kamsi Anayo
A Labour Party (LP) Imo State Gubernatorial Aspirant, Maj.-Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe (Rtd.), has described dialogue, pacification and reintegration as the best weapon for conflict resolution instead of the use of guns.
Ogunewe, who gave the advice at an event recently, pleaded with citizens in the country to be adequately involved in ensuring secured states in Nigeria, saying that security is everybody’s business.
He, however, noted that the rising insecurity in the country necessitated the establishment of state funded security outfits to check the menace of insecurity in the country by some state governors.
The former Nigeria military adviser to the United Nations in New York, added that the establishment of such security outfits must have to pass certain tests to be seen as working in the interest of the people.
“It is the constitutional duty of state governors to ensure the security of lives and property in their various states.
“First, the security outfit must have a name and must be established by an Act of the State House of Assembly. This gives the security outfit legality.
“Secondly , the security outfit must undergo some level of para-military training especially on intelligence and weapon handling.
“Third, the outfit must have an office and a recognised address where citizens can go to make complaints and report incidents,’’ he said.
Ogunewe added that the security outfit must have an organogram with a known command structure for ease identification.
According to him, the commander of the outfit and sub-commanders must be known and reachable.
“Sixth, the outfit must have a distinguishable form of identity, uniform and identity cards for its personnel. Seventh, the outfit must have distinguishable vehicle colour and markings for ease of identification.
“Eight, the outfit must have a code of conduct that must guide its operations. Ninth, the outfit must be officially launched to create awareness of its existence.
“Tenth, the outfit must cooperate with the military, police and other security agencies in the discharge of their duties,’’ the Labour Party governorship candidate said.
He noted that the private security outfit, the Amotekun which operates in the South-west states of the country met the criteria he listed above.
“I am sorry to state that any state security outfit that does not meet the above criteria and more can be likened to a militia.
“Militias all over the world are known to kill, maim and destroy,’’ the LP hopeful stressed”.
