Abdul Tunde Gegele, a legal practitioner who practises in Ilorin, the
Kwara State capital speaks in this interview with our JUDICIARY
CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI on the worrisome state of insecurity in
Kwara and in Nigeria as a whole among other germane issues. Excerpts:
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, since he was sworn-in, has been
driving himself around, a development many people describe as a show
of humility, how do you see that in the light of security challenges
in the state?
It’s wrong and dangerous, I agree that the governor is popular, he won
the election with the popular vote of the people of Kwara State. But,
that doesn’t mean he should throw caution to the wind. It’s risky for
him to be driving himself around town without security. We never can
tell who does not want his face in the society, the modus operandi of
many of the ‘good boys’ is to waste lives. President John Kennedy was
very popular in America when he was assassinated and so was our former
head of state, General Muritala. Our governor is humble, humane and
very generous. We know him for all these features, because these have
helped him thus far, he needs to be careful on how he handles his own
security, he is no longer Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq but the
Executive Governor of the state. Unless he’s alive, he will not be
able to achieve all the laudable plans and his intentions for the
people of Kwara. His advisers should counsel him against driving
himself and moving around town without security. Of recent, Kwara has
become a place where insecurity thrives, government has not been able
to put the menace to rest, anybody could be a target in the hands of
evil doers. Also, for now, the Governor needs to concentrate majorly
on how he can do his part to better the state, lots of things are not
in good state, of course, during the campaign, he promised to address
them, I think for now, this and many more should bother the governor
rather than driving self all about. Kwarans who voted him are looking
up to him with high expectations.
The spate of insecurity in Nigeria is fast becoming worrisome, do you
see the establishment of state police as panacea?
State police will surely go a long way to curb crime, the strength of
the Nigeria Police is not enough to curtail the rate of crime. There
is an upsurge in crime as a result of youth unemployment. Lots of our
youths are so desperate about making money and they are ready to
commit any crime to achieve their desires. We only just need to follow
proper procedure in setting up the Force, and once this is followed,
there is an urgent need for state police to start functioning just to
salvage the country incessant insecurity challenge. In Nigeria today,
lives are worth nothing before Boko Haram insurgents, there are also
herdsmen and farmer clashes, these people killed in very despicable
manner, If there are local police who serve as watchdog to people in
the community, the situation will die down. We surely need to devise a
new approach before it’s late.
What is your take on over N4billion welcome package that is to be
shared among the new lawmakers at the National Assembly?
My take is that the lawmakers should be very careful, with the state
of Nigerian economy, that amount is too exorbitant for a public
officer who has come into office with Nigerians’ votes. Why they were
elected was to serve the country not to be after money.
Do you think EFCC Act supports the commission to display suspects’
pictures on social media?
If their law supports that, then, it is against the constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Justice requires that any suspect
must be fairly heard and tried and he should not be condemned without
these yardsticks being employed. The practise of posting pictures of
suspects on social media is like trial in the media. I don’t think
that mode of operations is right. National Assembly should rise up to
the yearnings of Nigerians over this and enact law that will regulate
activities of the EFCC. Although, the commission is achieving a lot
but their powers are so wide that it is giving room for lots of
abuses.
