STAKEHOLDERS at a two-day security summit in Abuja have charged leaders in government at levels to endeavour to connect the symbolic gestures of leading with justice and compassion to open up avenues of hope for the people. The submissions were made at a stakeholders' summit on security, organised by the Presidential Committee on Public Awareness on Security and Civil Responsibility, held at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Abuja.
Speaking in a paper titled, "Nigeria As A Message To Nigerians," the Editor and Deputy Editor- In-Chief of The Guardian, Mr. Debo Adesina, urged the government to give real life to the citizens through the eradication of extreme poverty, as well as the achievement of universal primary education, which he noted must be reduced effectively if the government was serious about reducing the threat to security in the country.
Adesina also noted that efforts must be taken by the government to promote gender equality, ensure environmental sustainability as well as among other things develop a global partnership for development latest by 2015 for there to be an avenue of hope for the people.
He went on: "Our leadership recruitment process, brutally and selfishly manipulated by the elite, automatically excludes true men and servants but embraces mediocre and visionless buglers. It is comforting to hear in recent times suggestions of engagement and not only force in dealing with problems. While it is possible that the motive of some of the perpetrators of violence in our nation may be hard to comprehend, a sober reflection on all things and a genuine interrogation of our state of affairs would lead us to a more lasting engagement with ourselves and ultimately enduring solution."
He noted that no laws or institutional apparatus can guarantee Nigeria's security in the face of corruption, greed in high places and widespread deprivation and discontent.
He added: "To fight physical insecurity therefore, we will need to fight the grinding poverty, lack, illiteracy and disease in our society. The battle for freedom from want is not only raging in Nigeria. There are no quick fix solutions especially when there is such dysfunction in a society as we have in Nigeria. But even in this tunnel, we must look for the light by which to find our way."
The Guardian