By Friday Obande
Air Commodore Abayomi Balogun has said that lack of synergy amongst the Nigerian security architecture has led to the challenges in the fight against terrorism.
He made this known at the launch of his book titled, “Amidst the Chaos and other certainties: Nigeria Can Overcome” themed:Beyond the Current Challenges, Nigeria Can Forge a New Path to Peace Progress and Stability, which held at Nigeria Military War College, Asokoro, Abuja.
The former Allpha Jet Pilot, explained that Nigeria can overcome her challenges but not by accident, as most of the challenges have either been formed through collective actions or inactionsof Nigerians entirely.
He spoke about kinetic tactics and diplomatic means of combating insecurity, he also advised the government to provide the necessary amenities for the people in the rural areas, as well as security agencies to be more proactive and embark on counter attacks on the enemies of the country.
“For over 10 years, the military have not operated under one command which should be under the Defence Head Quarters, DHQ. This has led to the difficulty of combating terrorism and other criminal activities across the country.
“Nigerians should understand that the fight against terrorism is an all inclusive affair,” he stressed.
He expressed his profound gratitude to God, the chairman of the occasion and all the guests in attendance, maintaining that Nigeria and Nigerians will surely overcome.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the occasion and Former Chief of Army Staff, and Madakin Bade, Major Gen. Alwali . J. Kazir, highlighted that Nigerians have faced so much since her Independence and require cooperative efforts of both the security agencies and the citizens to combat terrorism and other forms of menace across the nation.
According to him, stability stands as major arsenal against crime, but he however lamented the non-cooperation amongst the echelons of the military, as he differentiated the concept of cooperation and cooperation, which he said the latter is the preferable form of relationship.
He urged the government to re-intergrate some ex-officers, mostly in the military, who can give necessary advice to Nigeria’s Security for its might against the terrors.
The book Reviewer, Air Commodore S.A Zakari, described the piece as a Canon for strategic warfare tactics of all security architectures and the grassroots against insecurity and terrorism.
He gave an analogy of the 12 Chapter text as follow: Talks about the important roles of the general public, the complexity of governance and leadership that devastate peaceful co-existence across the country, Chapt. 2 abject poverty and hunger as major causes of the menace, Chapt. 3 steps by constituent governor of States and the management of resources and human rights, Chapt. 4 talks about the deplorable situation in the ranking systems.
Chapters 5 to 10 highlight: ‘the roles and civic duties of citizens towards nation building and the fraudulent actions of some big state actors, the effects of the anomaly on the system, the role of Military veterans in building the nation, inadequate synergey to combat the insecurity situation, ‘overcoming insecurity in Nigeria/Intervention and Counter Terrorism.
The 11th and 12th chapters discuss the victory over insecurity, saying it is basically for those who create or enforce freedom and ‘The way forward, respectively.
The 241’book’s Foreword was written by Major General A. M Jibril, National Chairman,Nigerian Legion.
Dignitaries at the event were mostly senior military officers and politicians that included: Lt. General L.O Adeosun(former theatre commander N/East) AVMs (rtd) Ade Adekunle, (A. Idris (rtd), A.A Jekenme, Commodore Mohammed Barau, Police AIG, Hashimu Argungu, Honorable (AVM Rtd) Adeniyi Ojuawo, Member, House of Representatives, representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency who represented the book launcher, former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, amongst many other participants at the ground breaking event.