An Ibadan, Oyo State-based public commentator and political analyst, Comrade Godwin O. Jimba, has commended the initiator of the National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons and Pipeline Vandalism (NATFORCE), Dr. Baba Mohammed, saying, it’s a job opportunity venture.
Jimba, in a statement, said the simple fact that the outfit has the capacity to remove about 270,000 youth from the street and labour market through employment has made the effort a commendable one, lamenting however that, the recent clamping down on the outfit by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), appears confusing.
The vocal political observer was reacting to a reported declaration of the NSA Office that lobbed the NATFORCE with other security outfits described as illegal, saying, the declaration, against the background of the outfit already declare as legal by a court of competent jurisdiction make the whole episode confusing and disturbing.
He suggested that since the case had been decided by a law court, the best thing to do would have been going back to the court to vacate the verdict before taking any action against the verdict, observing that, the step already taken is hasty and unpopular.
Speaking further, Jimba also frowned at the declaration at a time the National Assembly is said to be handling a Bill concerning the outfit, asserting that, “if that is true, the action can be described as pre-emptive and anti-democratic.
However, the concerned analyst, who believes that the NSA must have had cogent reasons to take the step with the national interest at the back of his mind, he however is of the conviction that, some democratic steps ought to have been taken to show transparency in the process before the sudden declaration.
He, therefore, suggested that the NSA can still suspend the clamp down with a view to re-strategizing and coming up with an acceptable way of doing things in democratic climes like Nigeria, insisting that, “it is not too late to do so.”
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The youthful activist also stressed the need for all hands to be on deck over the worrisome state of insecurity in the country, saying, “it is incumbent on all of us to collectively combat the monster ravaging the country because the task is not to be left in the hands of the authorities alone.
He also appealed to all well-meaning individuals, the private sectors, social and religious bodies, corporate organization and others home and overseas to assist in whatever means possible to ensure safety of lives and properties in the country, appealing that, “initiatives like the NATFORCE of Dr. Baba Mohammed should not be allowed to die.”
