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The Sultan of Sokoto,
Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III
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The Sultan yesterday backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s
anti-corruption battle, recommending jail for treasury looters. To Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar
III, treasury plunderers do not deserve mercy. They should be tried and
jailed, the Sokoto monarch said. The
monarch said: “It is our belief that all those found guilty should not only
have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail
sentences.” It was all at the
opening of a National Security Summit organized by the police in collaboration
with The Sun Publishing Limited in Abuja. The President said
more hands were on the way for the police.
President Buhari spoke of
a plan to recruit 10,000 to strengthen the capacity of the police to fight
insurgency and other crimes.
The summit’s theme is
“Community partnership approach to internal security and crime management”.
The Nation report
continues:
Besides, Buhari said his
administration was considering Close Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring
systems for major cities and towns to address security challenges.
The Sultan was not alone
in the support for the anti-corruption war. Former Abia State Governor Orji
Uzor Kalu, publisher of The Sun, also backed the President.
The former governor
advised that the anti-graft battle should be targeted at the real culprits and
not political foes.
Speaking of the theme of
the summit, the President reminded the police that no matter how well
motivated, equipped and successful they think they are, they cannot operate
without the support of the various communities.
The President said: “The
need for community input to crime management and policing in Nigeria has become
more imperative, considering our current national security challenges in which
kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, transitional crimes, terrorism and other
organised crimes evolve and threaten our national values and overall progress
as a nation.”
To address the
challenges, including unemployment, illiteracy, radicalisation, negative peer
group influence, substance abuse and erosion of family and moral values,
President Buhari restated his promise to empower the youth.
“The Federal Government
is planning to employ at least an extra 110, 000 police officers and establish
a properly trained and equipped Federal Anti-Terrorism Multi-Agency Task Force
that will effectively address the challenge of future insurgency in a
sustainable manner.”
On the installation of
CCTV systems, the President said: “In order to further strengthen the security
of the public space, consideration is being given to the extension of the CCTV
Monitoring Systems across major cities and towns in the country while the
police accountability mechanism will be strengthened.”
He also spoke of efforts
being made to enhance the operational capacity of policemen through a
tailor-made training programme that will give them the right civil orientation
in their roles as guidance of the constitution.
Speaking on the welfare
of police officers, the Sultan said: “We should face the task of reforming and
repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure
that our security agencies truly become 21st Century organizations, able to
discharge their mandate effectively and efficiently. We should be able to cater
for their operational needs and the welfare of their members.
“Institute national
integrity plan for the country as soon as feasible, which will refocus our
ethical, moral and spiritual energies and the indomitable spirit of our people
into building a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country, which shall take
its pride of place among the comity of nations.
“The last few years have
undoubtedly been trying period for this country. Blood has been shed with
impunity and reckless abandon, lives have been lost, livelihoods have been
shattered and entire communities have been dislocated. A significant percentage
of our population has become refugees in our own homeland.”
He, however, urged
traditional and community/religious leaders and the entire citizenry to come
together to ensure that the suspicion and mistrust of the past give way to
major trust and understanding.
The Sultan spoke about
how the Caliphate fought corruption. He said: “As from early stage, the leaders
realized that they needed honest people at all levels to be able to establish a
decent state. Leaders, according to Sultan Mohammed Bello, are a spring of
water and all your officials are like water ways. If the spring is pure, the
filth of the waterways cannot harm it. If on the other hand the spring is
polluted, the purity of the waterways will have little effect on the purity of
the water. And I can say Alhamdulilai, in Mr. President, we have a pure spring
as our president.
“On his employees, the
ruler was asked to estimate their wealth before appointing them and should
watch their conduct at all times. He shall confiscate whatever is in excess of
their legitimate income and if in doubt, confiscate half of it. To his subject,
you will be shepherd of flock amongst ravening lions, for from evil employees
proceeds all manner of corruption in every learning.
“On bribery and gift
taking, Sheik Abdullahi Fodio could not be more emphatic… Another thing agreed
upon as being illegal is the collection of bribes on behalf of the leader or
other officials like the judges and other employees. It is also illegal to
accept gifts from the common people for such action is the door leading to all
calamities. Where a gift finds its way to a man of authority, justice and
goodness will find their way out of him and what he does is to purchase for
himself a place in hell.
“Mr President, we are 100
percent in support of you and your fight against corruption in this country and
it is our belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire
assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences.”
Inspector-General of
Police (IGP) Solomon Arase urged the President to persuade the National
Assembly to pass the Police Trust Fund Bill into law.
The Bill will address
adequate funding for the police.
Arase said: “Through
effective funding, the welfare needs of police personnel will be met and the
challenge of corruption that has eroded professionalism and public respect for
police officers will be addressed.
“Consider funding options
for the police. In so doing, consideration may be given to the resuscitation
and passage of the Police Trust Fund (Establishment, etc) Bill, which has been
pending in the National Assembly since 2012.
“Like the Education Tax
Fund, the bill seeks to tax corporate entities in order to complement the
Federal Government in funding the police.
“If passed into law, it
will give effect to the concept of public-police partnership while addressing the
funding challenges of the Police on sustainable basis.
“This is because modern
policing is a cost-intensive venture, but the benefits of a well-funded Police
Force far outweigh the value of the budgetary investment. For it is only
through adequate funding that the huge logistics demand of the police can be
met and operational efficiency assured.”
Kalu said the President
must be focused in his fight against corruption.
His words: “Do not pursue
corruption the way some of your predecessors pursued corruption. The fight
should not be by fighting individuals that have not done anything, but you
should fight anybody, no matter his tribe, ethnicity, colour or person. Whoever
is involved in corruption should not be spared.
“Corruption in the past
had been fought based on political disagreement; corruption in the past had
been fought because you don’t like a face.
“Don’t focus on catching
any governor. If you cannot catch the governor because he has immunity, please
don’t catch the mother like the former President said,” Kalu said.
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