Akhimien: This Is Time To Rejig Security And Intelligence

 Davidson Akhimien is the President of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), and the Managing Director of King David Security,private security outfit in Lagos. In this interview with ODITA SUNDAY, he avers that the media must be embedded in the fight against insecurity before the election and urged the Police to place notorious thugs on surveillance to ensure violence-free polls.

. Police Should Maintain Absolute Neutrality 

What would you advise the Police and other security agencies do to avoid further postponement and ensure hitch-free elections?

AT this point, security agencies should be at alert, because what we are about to do is a most fundamental feature of democracy. Transparent, free, fair electoral processes guarantee the sustainability of democracy. In the course of carrying out democratic elections, constitutionally, it is the responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure peace and order of the society. The campaigns have been the most vicious that we have recorded in the history of Nigeria. 

     Political parties carry out campaigns of calumny against themselves; the rhetoric is completely uncivil. Politicians conduct themselves in a manner that is despicable; and as a result of this, they have heated up the polity.  

    The security agencies have a very big responsibility to ensure that there is no violence. In order to prevent violence, they have to work hand-in-hand with the media. The media has to be embedded in the security arrangement, so that there would be a security input in media presentation. 

    The media may not be able to gauge the sensitivity of certain reports and advertisements that political parties may want to bring to public domain. Media houses may not be able to censor certain reports except the security agencies let them know the implications.  When you bring sensitive issues to the public domain, you heat up the polity.  The security agencies must act now and ensure that there is serious media-security agencies parley or synergy, so that we don’t heat up the polity. We need to douse the tension. 

    Security agencies have to rejig their intelligence structure and be proactive in tackling volatile areas. They should try to identify flashpoints before incidents happen. They should also embark on show-of-force at these volatile areas. If certain kingpins who could be troublemakers are identified, security agencies should begin to put plans in operations to see how to curtail, monitor such personalities. They should also find out who their contacts are and monitor their activities daily through intelligence sources without necessarily following them, so that we can nip violence in the bud.

The IGP redeployed some police chiefs few days ago, is that enough from the Police?

     In an election, the security agencies are supposed to maintain absolute neutrality. We are all humans, so there is always a tendency for certain affiliation to exist, especially when an officer has stayed in a state for many years. There is tendency that such officer may hold their allegiance to the political leader in that place but an officer posted freshly does not have those affiliations. He gets to focus on the job without caring whose ox is gored. I think the Inspector General of Police must have taken these into consideration before moving the policemen.

Do you have fears over this election?

    I don’t have fears.  As a security practitioner, I don’t have any security fears, because I don’t believe that there is noting much to the exercise safe for good policing.  People should divorce fears from their mind and believe in the system.

How do we check pockets of violence being witnessed in some areas?

    The leadership of the political parties must call their supporters to order. They must caution their supporters and exercise a high degree of responsibility, because in the final analysis, APC or PDP, Nigeria will remain.  There have been SDP, PRP, NRC, but where are they today? Parties can evolve, but Nigeria will remain.

    Political party leaders should know that they have to put the security of Nigeria above their personal interests. They have to be responsible, so that their supporters can show sense of responsibility.  The political parties and their candidates should tone down the rhetoric and make a return to issue-based campaigns. 

    Election in Nigeria is not a do-or-die affair; there is life after every election. Nigeria must move forward irrespective of whoever wins the election. The two political parties that enjoy the widest support across our great country are, at this juncture, enjoined to eschew inciting statements that will heat-up the polity and may snowball into electoral violence as witnessed in the last elections of 2011.

There is an allegation that the Federal Government is influencing the military; do you agree with that position?

    People will always raise suspicion. It is the responsibility of the incumbent government to ensure the peace and security of its people. This is one of the responsibilities of government enshrined in the constitution. The president is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Should he relinquish command and control of the Armed Forces because there is an election? 

     This is only a suspicion on the part of the politicians and I would want people to disregard it. But the military, as an institution, must not allow itself to be used. They have shown a sense of responsibility since the emergence of democracy. Our military heads should continue to remain professional, as they have evolved to become.

The Police are still not well equipped; how do you think they can provide security for elections and still not be compromised? 

      We have advised the government to provide equipment for the Nigeria Police Force before the elections. They should provide patrol vehicles, radio communication for every policeman, bulletproof jackets, helmets, anti-riot gadgets and other equipment needed for them to do their job on Election Day. They have to mobilise the police very well. 

     I would also advise that it is not proper this time for policemen to collect gifts from political parties

How can private security practitioners assist in ensuring a peaceful election?

  We are ready to contribute our quota by making our men available for security duties nationwide in partnership with all other government security agencies while giving valid suggestions, opinions and tips to all players in the election process. The position of INEC to continue distribution even to the eve of the elections is commendable. If the Temporary Voters Card (TVC) can ameliorate any challenges, it should be considered. This will douse very unnecessary tensions in the build up to the elections.