From Yakubu Busari,Jos
Dr Elias Nankap-Lamle
A University of Jos don at the Centre for Conflict Management & Peace Studies, Dr Elias Nankap-Lamle, has blamed the current insecurity challenges in the country on the prevalent injustice and blatant disregard for the rule of law, which if not checked will plunged the nation into serious danger.
He called on the Federal and state governments to institute justice and rule of law as a matter of urgency to end insecurity ravaging the country.
Lamle made the called while delivering his key note address at the 2021 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Pankshin Branch, held at Kanke Resort, Kabwir, Kanke local Government Area of Plateau.
Lamenting in his paper titled: “The Rule of Law and Good Governance:Tools for Stemming the Tide of Insecurity in Nigeria” the lecturer ,said, “there has never been a robust observance of the rule of law in Nigeria, whereas where lies injustice, lies insecurity.”
“These, very well explained the reason insecurity has pervaded in the country today. Sad enough, Judges, who are expected to be courageous, impartial, independent, just and be respecters of no persons no matter how highly exalted their positions in the society may be, have failed.
“The major issue here is that without an independent judiciary with incorruptible judges, the rule of law cannot be sustained,” he stated
He noted, “In Nigeria, we only have strong personalities but weak institutions as often times, public servants, especially chief executives, behave and carry themselves about as if they are above the laws or are not subject to any authority.”
According to him, by the demands of the rule of law, the government and its officials are duty-bound to respect and obey the law in all its actions.
He said government must also address other issues like illegal arrest, detentions, trials, banning of trade unions and popular organizations, harassment of civil rights campaigners, illegal proscriptions of media houses, extra-judicial killings and other hostile acts against the citizenry perpetrated by Nigerian leaders that have become a daily occurrence in every state of the federation.
“The farther our journey into democracy, the clearer it becomes that Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb, owing to some inconsistencies in the provisions in the nations Constitution!
“Problematic institutions and patterns established by the 1999 Constitution as amended have facilitated conflicts in the Middle Belt, the Niger Delta militancy, persistent clashes between farmers and herders, settlers and indigenes, and ethno-religious groups and kidnappings,” he said.
He disclosed that as part of answer to the nation’s security challenges, three reforms should be undertaken in order to remedy the institutional and legal atmosphere in Nigeria to promote stability.
He asserted that the decentralization of police and institution of state oversight, synthesizing a new indigeneity definition (at parliament level) and reduction of barriers to land registration and engagement in programmes to encourage women to register land would go a long way in addressing many of the social and economic challenges plaguing the country.
The don further said, “the scale of displacement across northern Nigeria is a national crisis, which calls for the institution of exceptions to indigeneity in times of crisis to serve as part of solutions to insecurity in Nigeria.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Pankshin Branch NBA Chairman, Mr Nenfwang Yilji, said that the law week was meant to open opportunity for discussion on topical issues that will add value to the society, hence the choice of the theme: ” The Rising tide of insecurity in Nigeria, which way out.”
Yilji said, “security is the most vital element in human life, without which social, economic and political achievements can’t be attained.”
“More worrisome is the fact that despite beautiful pronouncements by Governmental on the steps being taken to curb this insecurity menace, it has remained a mirage,”, he said, adding,
“It’s our collective responsibility as social engineers and ministers in the temple of justice, to promote the rule of law and add our voices and take firm position against the rising cases of insecurity in Nigeria.”
