Even those in the government are finding it difficult to believe their eyes that the insecurity in the country could degenerate to this level. It is actually so because the government appears confused on what is to be done at the moment. A hungry man is an angry man! The worst of the situation is the diverse nature it has taken right now leaving the government to be reactive instead of proactive. After calamities have befallen the people now, the government would be tightening up security here and there; adopting defensive instead of offensive measures. The government and the people of Nigeria are now living with the fear of the unknown.For the first time in many years, the clamour for the creation of state police is on the increase. An idea most of the new proponents were against just yesterday. While some say the creation of state police is the panacea, others would say no that the only thing we need do is to equip the existing federal police with sophisticated weapons to combat crime in the land. And while we are searching for what is to be done, the criminals are taking advantage of our ineffectiveness in policy direction to unleash terror on the defenceless citizens, the same masses the bad leaders in the country had first dealt with by making it impossible for them to have basic necessities of life. Yes, no electricity, no affordable quality education, no good roads, no hospitals, no potable water, no social infrastructure. What do we see today' We see oppression, intimidation, marginalisation, immorality and corruption.As if the above are not enough, the government is still further taxing even these people she has failed to provide these basic necessities of life for. After extorting the people in the form of taxation, they would now embezzle same in the name of we are building the nation for you and your generation to come. Meanwhile, they are buying choice personal properties within and outside the country. What do we see in return' Angry youths who have been frustrated to the maximum level trying to see where to unleash their anger, thereby creating local bombs, arms and ammunition to prove to the government that they are capable of doing what they do not think it is possible within the content of the environment.What can we do to solve these problems' First, we need to recognise the youths of this country and start creating job opportunities for all without discrimination. Second, there should be mass engagement in education and vocational studies. Third, there should be genuine repentance from our corrupt leaders. Fourth, there should be provision of infrastructure across the country. Fifth, there should be a sovereign national conference that would help us to reveal what each segment of the country wants. Finally, there should be reorganisation of our institutions from the local to the federal levels. Transparency and proper accountability by the government to the governed is urgent and important.When all this is done, we do not need to budget N992bn for security before there would be reduction in crime and social unrest in the country.I therefore call on President Goodluck Jonathan to do what is right as mentioned above so that we can have peace in this country.Omoti Barry is a business development expert based in Ketu, Lagos.
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