Experts Urge Politicians to Spend Money on Security

Professor  Chris Kwaja of Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, has urged political leaders to spend more money and energy on security of the country rather than on election campaigns.

Kwaja, a lecturer and researcher, said this in a keynote address yesterday   in Nsukka during an annual hybrid international conference by the faculty of Social Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), titled “Democracy, Security and Development”.

He expressed concern on how the political class in the country has invested so much money and energy in campaigning to win elections but spend little on security and good governance.

“It’s unfortunate that the political class are investing so much money and energy on winning elections, but almost nothing on security and good governance.

“They should rejig their strategies towards solving security challenges and strengthening democracy in order to move the country forward,” he said.

Kwaja, also a security expert, advocated huge involvements of academia in politics, policymaking, and development of strategies so as to fast track national development and achieve a robust economy.

“Adequate involvement of the academia will help to fast track national development as well as achieve robust economy that will make the country among the best economies in the world,” he said.

Speaking, Dr Ifesinachi Okafor of St Andrew’s University, Scotland, who spoke virtually, drew the attention of the conference to life in the sea and its significance to national security.

 “The porosity of water borders as fisherfolks seeking to expand productivity in fisheries has its own security implications.

“The effect of this trend on ocean governance cannot be overstated, calling for an urgent need to beef up sea border security,” she said.

Okafor commended the faculty for the theme of the conference which she said gave her the opportunity to make her contributions.

 In a remark, Prof Ike Onyishi, Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, UNN, said that the theme of the conference shows that democracy in Africa has become an impediment to security and development following corruption and mismanagement by elected leaders.

“The theme of this conference is not only apt but timely particularly in Africa where the practice of democracy is increasingly becoming a serious threat to security and development.

“The idea of this conference is not to condemn democracy but to extol its virtues, which are capable of reshaping security and development across the world, including Africa.

“The faculty is committed to using knowledge to liberate humankind and ensuring that people regain their freedom and dignity,” he said.

The Dean who said the conference was in partnership with UNESCO and CLEEN Foundation, expressed appreciation  participants and resource persons for participating either physically or virtually.

Onyishi said he was optimistic that the conference would generate quantum of ideas and actionable recommendation for deepening democracy, enhancing security and facilitating development in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

Also speaking, Prof Freedom Onuoha, a lecturer from Department of Political Science of the faculty, who was the chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC), said that the theme captured three core problems of Nigeria.

“Nigeria is a microcosm of this concept as it is impossible to have democracy or development without security.

“Democracy provides the ultimate framework for the people to realise their full ambitions, potentials and make it possible for any country to progress.

“There is a whole lot of concern if the democracy we are practicing in Nigeria is actual democracy practiced in some western countries,” he said.

Onuoha expressed concern that citizens were disturbed on the multi-dimensional security challenges facing the country.

“Currently, terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping and militancy posed serious problem in the country.

“We are hopeful that the theme of this conference will ignite debate nationally and internationally so as to find  solutions towards moving the country forward,” he said.

Earlier, Prof  Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, commended the faculty for sustaining its annual international conference as well as the theme of the conference which he described as apt and timely.

NAN reports that, the conference was chaired by Prof Michael Okolie, the Vice-chancellor (VC), Enugu State University of Science and Technology, who until his appointment as VC was the Dean of the faculty at UNN. (NAN).