AANI releases communiqué, proffers solutions to nation’s woes

R-L: Mr. Khaleel Bolaji, Sultan Sa'ad Abubakar, Mr. Mohammed Babagana Monguno and a guest during the event.
 
By Ochiaka Ugwu

Alumni Association of National Institute (AANI) has released communiqué on the outcome of its National Dialogue on Democratic Stability for National Security where it proffered solutions to nation’s woes.

In a statement released by the association in Abuja and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dr.Ogbonna Onyeisi, mni, it noted the Dialogue was aimed at interrogating the challenges of national security vis-à-vis democratic development with a view of proffering solutions, particularly in the light of coming 2019 general elections.

It however, recommended that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be made truly independent and adequately funded and equipped to conduct peaceful and credible election that will go a long way in stabilizing our democracy and ensuring national security with politicians avoiding the use of combative, hate, volatile and inciting statements that create tension and violence in the Country.

It stated the President should redirect the ongoing election campaign by Political Parties and politicians from its present banality, blackmail and personal insults with Code of conduct in campaign enforced by INEC.

It said that government should enforce a control mechanism on preaching by religion leaders as is done in other parts of the world to control unguarded utterances that normally lead to crisis.

It tasked the media to be more focused and sensitive to national security needs by being professional and patriotic in its reportage with social and legal control of the social media to check its excesses in the interest of national security and democratic stability.

It also urges constant dialogue between the government and media practitioners in order to allow free flow of information and discourage rumor mongering and dissemination of fake news.

It said that National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should be properly equipped to combat the challenges of drug abuse and trafficking in order to promote the ideals of a better society.

The communiqué stated the need for joint training of the military, politicians and the civil society groups on International Conventions on conflicts with the general populace being well educated on the duties of the military as well as encourage civil-military relations.

According to the statement, “Government should ensure the respect of the rule of law, protect human rights and institute good governance at all strata.

“In communities where military interventions or operations have taken place with its natural destructive consequences, government should make fund available immediately for quick impact projects and partner with relevant agencies to provide assistance to those communities in order to douse tension.

“The Country is presently under-policed, therefore there is need for recruitment into the Nigerian Police Force to enable them perform their function more effectively” the communiqué read in part.

It could be recalled (AANI) organized a one -day National Dialogue in Abuja with the theme “DEMOCRATIC STABILITY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY” the dialogue was declared open by the representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammed Babagana Monguno, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III, AANI President, Khaleel Bolaji, mni and some other past presidents of AANI as well as the Ag. Director General NIPSS and the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office of SGF, Dr. Amina Shamaki, mni all graced the occasion.

The event brought together more than 180 participants with majority of them being AANI members, representatives of military, Para military, security agencies, civil society groups, professional bodies as well as the academia.