Uzodimma backs framework on promotion of inter-security agency collaboration

…Says Imo model is working

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma is in support of a framework that will help promote inter-security agency collaboration in the country.

He spoke on Tuesday at the Landmark Event Centre in Owerri while addressing an audience that attended a lecture organised by the Army leadership as part of activities to mark the 2022 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) taking place in Imo State.

The lecture with the theme –  Curbing Insecurity in Nigeria and the Imperative of Inter-Security Agency Collaboration and Coordination – was delivered by foremost intellectual and erudite economist, Prof. Osita Ogbu.

Governor Uzodimma who assured all security agencies –   Army,  Navy,  Air Force,  Police, DSS, the Civil Defence –  as well as the para-military agencies of his readiness to support a framework that will lead to their collaboration, hinted that inter-security agency collaboration has recorded huge successes in Imo State hence the model should be considered for adoption by the authorities.

The Governor said the Army has improved both in “professional competence and intellectual prowess and has in many ways justified the confidence reposed in them by the Government and people of Nigeria.”

“The need for inter-agency collaboration cannot be overemphasized as it is working in Imo State, though with some challenges, yet there are lots of successes.”

Governor Uzodimma who commended the Guest Lecturer, Prof. Ogbu, for a well thought-out paper also expressed his happiness over the level of patriotism expressed by the Army in her struggle to safeguard the territorial integrity of Nigeria, including the residents and the Nigerian assets.

Governor Uzodimma wondered what would have been the fate of Nigeria without the resilience of the Armed Forces working with sister agencies,  and encouraged them not to be “deterred or daunted because no matter how much you try in your patriotism and professionalism there must be criticism.”

The Governor however recommended that the fight against insecurity should not be left to the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff alone.

He was in agreement with the recommendations of the Guest lecturer that the political leaders have a role to play in “bringing all the security agencies together and making them to understand that the interest of the country should come first before their own interest.”

He therefore called for all hands to be on  deck to contribute their different quotas towards national development.

The Governor who expressed happiness with the choice of Imo State for the 2022 Army Day Celebration, acknowledged that the programme has strengthened the security in the State and restored confidence in the people. 

“The theme of the celebration and the attendant outcome shows that the military is moving along with the international practices in combat, training and international advancement.”

 “Modern warfare now demands that troops should be physically and mentally alert. You need to be built with intellectual capacity to hold your own anywhere in the world,” he added.

Governor Uzodimma said though a lot of successes have been recorded in the areas of security “there is still something to be done and this can best be achieved through partnership between military and civilians, Local Government, State and Federal Government working together so that together there can be peace and unity when we believe in ourselves and our country.”

Governor Uzodimma did not end there.

At a banquet he organised for the Army Chief and his entourage at the Government House, the Governor was full of appreciation to the security agencies for their collaborative efforts in restoring back peace that seemed to have elluded Imo State in the last one year.

He said Imo people will remain grateful to them and will not take for granted the efforts it took to bring back peace that is badly needed to foster development and prosperity.

Earlier in his remarks during the lecture, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya said that “the lecture, discussions and contributions were designed to allow people from other sectors to contribute their ideas to enable the Army take and improve their cooperation and coordination to improve on the fight against insecurity and their professional competence.”

He conceded that there are still areas begging for improvement on the activities of Army operations and assured that the take home from the celebration,  especially the lecture, will assist the Army in greater effectiveness.

He emphasized character in effective professionalism, noting that every nation has its own peculiarities which guide their philosophy in their military and defence operations.

Yahaya assured Nigerians, Governor Uzodimma, the Government and people of Imo State and President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Army’s sincere loyalty and service to the Nation.

In his lecture, Prof. Ogbu brought to the fore the issue of character, as a tool to efficient and effective leadership both in the Army and other inter-security agencies.

He regretted that there is no blueprint yet that harmonizes the inter-security agency collaborations and coordination,  hence all agencies tend to work on parallel lines.

Part of his conclusion reads: “Peace and security require justice and equity in the sharing of the burden of development and similar equity in the sharing of the prosperity that arises from social and economic progress, indignity, poverty, inequality and rising sense of national unfairness and exclusion undermined citizenship and other attributes of character providing the environment for crimes to thrive and recruitment of terror gangs.

“Tlhe military and all the other agencies must realize that there is strength in humility and that ego is the enemy of collaboration.’’

During a courtesy visit to the Eze Imo Palace in Owerri at the end of the lecture, the Chief of Army Staff told the  traditional rulers that they were in the State for their annual Army Day Celebration and that they are concerned about security as it is key in everything they do which must be achieved before development.

Yahaya acknowledged the role the traditional rulers play in maintaining peace and security at the grassroots and appealed to them to assist the security agencies with intelligence and information that will help nip crime in the bud.

He reiterated their appreciation to the Governor for assisting them in all forms to have a memorable celebration as well as his other efforts in helping to combat crime and criminality in Imo State. 

Yahaya said Imo State exhibits a very peaceful place, noting that every environment requires peace for development to thrive.

Responding, the Chairman Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers,  His Royal Majesty,  Eze (Dr) E. C Okeke welcomed the COA and his entourage and used the opportunity to commend the efforts of Nigerian Army in combat readiness to contain and tackle the problem of banditry, insurgency, terrorism and general insecurity in Nigeria in general and Imo State in particular.

He appreciated the partnership that exists between the Army and Imo State which he said has brought about peace and tranquility in the State. 

He therefore assured, on behalf of the traditional rulers in the State and Nation at large, of their readiness to partner and work in synergy with the military and other security agencies in the area of combating crime and criminality to a zero level.

He used the opportunity to request that the Chief of Army Staff uses his good offices to influence the quota of recruitment into Nigerian Army for Imo State at all levels.

The highpoint of the visit was the conferment of Chieftaincy title of Dike Ogu 1 (Warlord One) of Imo State on the Chief of Army Staff.