Ike Nwachukwu Bewails State Of Security, Backs Restructuring
Major General Ike Nwachukwu, (retd) has bemoaned the present security situation in the Country whhich has seen thousand killed or maimed.
General Nwachukwu said this in his opening remarks as the chairman of the Vanguard Newspapers award night which was held on Saturday, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking, Nwachukwu called on the government to heed the call for restructuring of Nigeria and devolution of powers from the centre to the federating units.
He stated that the security situation in the Country is militating against its economic growth, as no investors will invest in a crisis prone environment
He said: “I join the call for the restructuring of our country, to remain united as a nation under God.
“We need to devolve the over-concentration of powers at the centre, whilst allowing the federating units more autonomy.
“And just as we are seeking devolution of powers to the state governments, as federating units, from the centre, so should the state governments guarantee the autonomy of the local governments under them”.
Speaking further, he said: “With the lead the Nigerian military had taken regarding restructuring, it behooves on Nigerians and our politicians to deliver on the restructuring of this country in order to have a true federation, in which no one is oppressed.
“I believe that it is only when we achieve this that our country will be stable, its security guaranteed and its economy thriving for the betterment of all.”
He also called for the respect of press freedom and the rule of law.
Commenting on the rule of law vis-a-vis freedom of press, he said that “it becomes absolutely imperative to protect the freedom of the press and the rule of law.
“The people of our country should, henceforth, be prepared to defend that freedom; as indeed, we must obey the rule of law, with all our might, if it is actually, the desire of our people that democracy should thrive and the laws of the land respected.
“The Nigerian media, particularly Vanguard Newspapers, at whose invitation we are here gathered today, should remain, fastidious in guaranteeing that the people are heard so that social justice be further engrained in our society.
“Nigerian media should continue to be the voice of the voiceless, the shield, the guard of the tormented and the canon fire of the oppressed, the deprived and the defenceless.”