At my set up because the Grand Patron of the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria (CAN) in Offa, Kwara State, I acknowledged and I reiterate that the present wave of killings and violence within the nation shouldn’t be unintentional. It’s intentionally schemed and sponsored by opponents of the federal government. A former North-West governor as soon as disclosed how bandits have been contacted and used throughout the 2014/2015 political interval. After attaining their goal, they anticipated the violence to cease, nevertheless it didn’t. We now have seen this sample earlier than. With the 2027 election approaching, the federal government should urgently restore peace, as a result of the credibility of any election will depend on a safe and governable nation the place residents can freely solid their votes.” — Opadokun
•How failure to handle Sharia legislation, politicians’ use of armed thugs backfired
*No nation can shoot its strategy to peace
By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor
Chief Ayo Opadokin, a lawyer and former assistant director of the Unity Social gathering of Nigeria, UPN, within the Second Republic, was within the trenches throughout the battle towards army rule that birthed the present democratic dispensation as nationwide publicity secretary of the Nationwide Democratic Coalition, NADECO. On this interview, he spoke on the state of the nation, raging battle towards insecurity, the way in which ahead for the nation and why he wrote a brand new e-book: The Gun Hegemony.
What impressed you to put in writing The Gun Hegemony?
After I used to be arrested by the army and whisked off to Abuja the place I spent 33 months at DSS headquartered and later taken to Kano Central Jail the place I spent 16 months, I made up my thoughts throughout my detention that I might write two books. The primary was my Jail Memoirs that was introduced at MUSON Centre in yr 2000.
Second, I used to be satisfied that apart from the ability of the gun i couldn’t have been so captured and hounded by individuals of imply popularity who don’t imply effectively for our society and had arrested our development and improvement.
Right here is me, who’s defending the rights of the atypical man being captured like a felon. I assumed that the gun was the foremost issue within the matter. I, due to this fact, determined that I used to be going to cope with the matter of the gun-those who wield it, those that are in custody of it, that’s the Military.
So, The Gun Hegemony was impressed by a seeming race to return to the state the place may is correct, brutish and nasty in addition to a deep concern about normalisation of violence as a instrument of energy globally and significantly in fragile democracies like Nigeria.
After a number of many years of civic engagement, I’ve noticed how the dominance of armed power, whether or not by the state, non-state actor or prison networks has displaced dialogue, justice, and ethical authority.
This e-book makes an attempt to interrogate that harmful trajectory and provoke a critical nationwide and world dialog.
I’m additionally involved with the seeming lasting unfavorable impact extended army dictatorship has had and nonetheless holds on Nigeria’s political house. The truth that the army organogram the place energy flows from the commander-in-chief downward has change into normalised with digital whole contempt and disrespect for the favored will of the general public has change into too worrisome to disregard.
What central argument does the e-book make?
The central argument is that when societies give up ethical authority and democratic accountability to the logic of the gun, they inevitably undermine their very own stability. The Gun Hegemony argues that unchecked militarisation of politics, safety, and even civic life erodes establishments, deepens concern, and weakens citizenship. Sustainable peace can’t be constructed on coercion alone; it should relaxation on justice, inclusion and accountable governance.
The kinetic energy of the gun has led to digital state of lawlessness right this moment in Nigeria, suggesting that our nationwide safety structure have to be reconfigured for impact.
Is the e-book targeted solely on Nigeria?
Whereas Nigeria supplies a compelling and pressing case examine, the e-book is intentionally world in outlook. Nigeria has the most important inhabitants of black individuals globally and has to get it proper in order that she will reply to her manifest future in offering management to the black race.
I draw parallels from Africa, the Center East, and elements of the Western world the place gun dominance-whether by way of army may, proxy wars or inner repression-has reshaped societies. Nigeria’s expertise, nevertheless, vividly illustrates how the failure to manage violence can threaten nationwide and regional cohesion.
The e-book presents the historic discovery of the gun in human existence and implications. With out the gun, maybe, there would have been no geographical house known as Nigeria. The e-book seems to be at who found the gun, its transformation and vital affect.
On argument that sturdy army power is critical in right this moment’s safety local weather
Safety is important, however power with out accountability turns into oppression. The e-book doesn’t argue towards respectable safety forces; relatively, it warns towards the elevation of power above legislation, ethics, and civilian oversight. Historical past teaches us that when the gun turns into the ultimate arbiter, even those that wield it will definitely lose management.
Who ought to learn The Gun Hegemony?
This e-book is for policymakers, safety professionals, students, civil society actors, religion leaders, and younger individuals who care about the way forward for democracy and peace. It is usually for atypical residents who wish to perceive why violence persists and the way societies can reclaim authority from concern and power.
What do you hope the launch on January 15 will obtain past e-book gross sales?
The launch is supposed to be greater than a literary occasion. I hope it turns into a platform for sober reflection and coverage dialogue amongst leaders, diplomats, intellectuals, and residents about how we will reverse the tradition of violence and rebuild belief Establishments. If the e-book stimulates trustworthy debate and curiosity for others to put in writing and influences thought, then it has served its goal.
What message would you want Nigerians to remove from this e-book?
My message is straightforward however pressing: No nation can shoot its strategy to peace. True safety comes from justice, fairness, and respect for human dignity. If we permit the gun dominate our politics and our conscience, we mortgage the way forward for coming generations.
On the origins of prevailing insecurity in Nigeria
When in 2001/2002 when Boko Haram began; and when Governor Sani Yerima of Zamfara State established Sharia Regulation, we campaigned towards it vigorously. Part 10 of the Nigerian Structure stipulates that Nigeria is a secular state, establishing Sharia Regulation means you’re adopting one other structure. It was an illegality that should be nipped within the bud however President Okuseguj Obasanjo stated then that it was a political Sharia that might soo. fizzle out.
Nevertheless, 11 different states joined Zamfara to make it 12 throughout the nation. As a result of they inspired this illegality for his or her political shenanigans it festered. They pumped cash into the arms of those characters who’re jobless, and deserted them after utilizing them for elections.
When the DSS arrested their leaders twice, Obasanjo was prevailed or blackmailed into accepting the false and ridiculous notion that the DSS officers who labored for the arrest have been Christians, and they also have been launched. Once they turned so giant and began breaking into Police, Air power, and army barracks some stated it was attributable to lack of actionable intelligence. The DSS management stated it was not true, they’d intelligence and arrested the terrorists however these arrested have been freed.
Once more, you to have a look at the Nigerian safety state of affairs from two dimensions-local and worldwide. The whole Sahelian region-Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, and so on don’t have a lot inexperienced pastures any longer. They’re searching for inexperienced pastures; as a result of they’ve their kith and kin main Nigeria severally, they have been drawn into Nigeria. And all they’ve been doing is to see how they might set up themselves-attack natives on their land, eradicate them and take over possession. Destroy their farms, once they complain, shoot them. In any other case, what does a herdsman want an Ak-47 rifle for? And it has been inspired for political functions. That is a part of the impression of the gun.
Nevertheless, for the primary time, there may be any individual in energy, President Bola Tinubu, who was not sponsored by the army. He’s doing his utmost however the extended years of army dictatorship in Nigeria and what it established can’t be wished away over night time.
With the present dynamics of what the federal government is doing, having understood that you simply want a mix of each kinetic and non+kinetic energy to ascertain some credible safety construction within the nation, I hope it’s going to begin bearing fruit when Nigerians begin having high quality and low cost meals on their desk, and employment is on the market for majority of the individuals.
Within the true of sense of it, none of all of the predecessors of Tinubu can declare to have higher financial and monetary specialists as he does. He is able to rework the nationwide economic system to carry a major variety of individuals out of poverty as a result of our individuals have actually suffered and are nonetheless present process terrific degree of poverty, agony which are depressing, undesirable and insupportable. I want that efforts being made will yield dividends
On the killings rising as an alternative of abating despite the efforts
At my set up because the grand patron of the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria, CAN, at Offa, Kwara State, I stated and reiterate that the present section of killings and violence will not be unintentional. They’re intentionally schemed and sponsored by the opponents of the federal government.
A former governor of a state within the North-West informed us what they did with bandits in 2014/2015, disclosed how they obtained in contact with the bandits and so forth. After utilizing them you need them to return to the dry place they got here from. They refused and went into the forests.
However the former governor was in the identical celebration with President Tinubu then…
You’ll be able to solely inform how violence will begin and the way it will finish. They achieved their goal then.
Do not forget that candidate Buhari in 2011 stated if he didn’t win blood would stream and blood flowed. A number of 1000’s of individuals have been killed. What occurred, was he delivered to e-book? was he requested to reply any query?
2027 election is approaching. With this type of violence do you suppose we’ll have an election?
Properly, I hope the federal government ought to be ready to rectify or do no matter it will probably as a result of the credibility of such election rests on the truth that they make the nation governable, peaceable for individuals to have the ability to go and solid their votes.
What’s your recommendation to Nigerians as we head in direction of the election?
My recommendation is that having been dominated by army dictators for such a chronic interval with their somersaulting financial insurance policies that had ravaged Nigeria, stunted our development and made us an underdeveloped nation the method of undoing what they’ve performed can’t come in a single day.
That’s why the ache and agony that persons are going by way of turns into very worrisome however maybe a necessity. You can’t eat an omelette with out breaking an egg. I simply hope that every one the efforts which were manufactured from which the federal government is telling us that the time for reaping the advantages of the agony has come, is correct.
I take a shot at one or two issues that President Bola Tinubu has succeeded in doing in current occasions.
He took a shot at fiscal federalism with these tax reforms.
Those that have benefited from the lopsided disaggregated a number of tax regimes don’t need this new tax reforms and they’re combating tooth and nail to stop its emergence nevertheless it has began.
After we take a look at the charts of tax contribution to the gross home product Nigeria is among the least on this planet. Most Nigerians don’t pay tax. Those who pay tax are authorities employees from their lean assets. Many wealthy individuals don’t pay tax.
As a lawyer, what’s your tackle the forgery controversy trailing the tax legal guidelines?
My view is that when a legislation is handed and assented to by the president it turns into legislation. True, individuals can increase objection, and the Nationwide Meeting is attending to it.
So, let the Nationwide Meeting attend to it. if the Nationwide Meeting whose accountability it’s to debate the invoice undergo and say what we despatched to you shouldn’t be what you’re working then they will resolve, they’ve their powers to take the mandatory motion. So, let the suitable physique of the state deal with it once they fail to behave it’s then we will deal with those that are charged with that accountability within the Structure.
What’s the approach ahead for the nation to get fiscal federalism after which start to function a egalitarian society?
The efforts by the Nationwide Meeting to amend the Structure are ok. I imagine that eventually Nigerians should sit down to answer the nationwide query.
Nigerians as a individuals and as a rustic should sit down to answer one twin query.
First, sure we have been pressured into co-habitation by the colonialists with their energy, sure that is an heterogeneous society of over 350 ethnic nationalities with completely different languages, faith, tradition, custom, artefacts, folklores, and so on. We secured our independence on a federal structure, we didn’t search for a change of that federal structure. The army and politicians in uniform on January 15, 1966 overthrew the democratically elected authorities of Nigeria, suspended and abrogated that negotiated structure and substituted for it their army unitarised and centralised governance in Nigeria.
That’s the reason for our drawback. Till we return to it to the federal structure we’re simply chasing shadows.
Have Nigerians ever answered the query whether or not they wish to belong to Nigeria? We now have not been requested and that’s the reason as much as right this moment everybody to begin with desires to be a member of his ethnic nationality.
Nigeria is a rustic. Maybe giving the extended years of our relationship, could also be we are saying can sure we wish to be collectively. If we are saying sure, the second query is how you will relate to be collectively within the nation. On what phrases, what’s the modus operandi, the rule of engagement that may bind us?
These are to be packaged collectively in a federal structure.
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