The current episodes of violent attacks, killings, kidnappings and destructions ravaging the country have called to question the viability and legitimacy of the federal government because these actions challenge the very basis for an organised government.
A Consultant on National Security and Counter-Terrorism, Dr. Dozie Ezeife, who made this known at the inauguration of two books: ‘Seeking Answers to Nigeria’s Security Challenges’ and ‘Boko Haram’, noted that “the basis for having a government is the social contract, which is the foundation of modern societies.
According to him, “We, the people, gave up our God-given rights to the government on the understanding that in return, the government takes on the responsibility of protecting our lives, limbs, properties and general wellbeing. So, when and if the government fails, or is unable to defend us, it loses the right to govern, because it has breached the social contract from which it derives the right and legitimacy to govern”.
Dr. Ezeife further said, “Nigeria is presently and for a period has been besieged by a myriad of security challenges. There is Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East region, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West and North-Central regions, as well as various violent agitations in the South-East and South-South regions. These are serious existential challenges facing our nation today.
“The surge of violence is a threat to law and order. It is a grave threat to our economy. It is a threat to life, liberty and pursuit of livelihood for every Nigerian and everyone who is in Nigeria. It questions the viability and legitimacy of our government”.
Situating the insecurity challenges threatening to strangulate Nigeria on four pillars, he further said, “Structural inequities show that the structure of the Nigerian union is defective, and this has contributed to enduring multi-lateral frictions along the lines of religion, tribe, language and culture. You can easily trace almost all the violent episodes in the nation to this imperfection. The failure to clearly define the terms of unification of the various peoples and spell out the relationships between the federating regions are the main drivers of insecurity today”.
Present at the inauguration were the former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, and Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), among others.
