Alhaji Muhammed Babandede, a former head of Nigeria Immigration Services has asked the Federal Government to consider engaging ex-servicemen to tackle insecurity in the country.
Babandede made the call in Abuja, at the 21st anniversary of the Peace Building Development Consult (PBDC) book launch and award presentations.
The book is titled, ’21 Years of Advancing Peace and Security, Reflecting on Progress , Strengthening Commitments and Shaping the Future,’ and written by Kayode Bolaji.
Babandede noted that many able and trained officers had been retired, hence the urgent need to bring them back to assist in the fight against insecurity.
“Government spends huge amounts of money to train military officers, and you find that some of them were retired at 50, 55, or even earlier and doing nothing afterwards.
“You need to have a think-tank in every organisation, government needs to harness these high-level people, they are everywhere,”he said.
He also said that most of the experienced officers left the service simply because their juniors were appointed as Chiefs.
“So, they had to go, and they are not being used. We need to form a think-tank on ways to address insecurity in the country,
“This is my call, and I hope government listens to it,”he said.
The former CG also advised politicians to desist from dividing the country along religious and ethnic lines.
He noted that in the past, Nigerians related as one in love and unity, devoid of primordial sentiments.
Babandede said that in the past, Muslims lived with their Christian neighbours and just minded their businesses.
The former immigration boss decried politicians, who wanted power, instigating people, using religious and ethnic sentiments to get things done or to avoid losing power, using such strategies to remain relevant in society.
“They always exploit the culture of religion and culture of sectionalism in order to gain benefits. I call on these politicians and on government, if they are careful to prohibit this.
“Let us prohibit this, let it be a crime for you to rally your people based on religion, language, or ethnicity. Let it be a punishable offence,”Babandede said, adding that this would make the society better.
“If we do that, the society will be better, because if there is joy, nobody is enjoying that joy strictly because of religion or culture.
“If there is suffering, nobody is suffering because of religion, culture, or tongue. That’s my call. I hope Nigeria will feel better if we consider this,” he said.
Also speaking, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and one of the awardees, who was represented at the event by Alhaji Saleh Samanja, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, described the award as a morale booster.
Samanja said the award would spur Buni to continue doing more for the state and its people with the goal of ensuring that normalcy, peace and security is restored in Yobe.
He said that Buni, since assumption of office, priotised security of lives and property in the state, working with security agencies.
He said that relative peace had been restored in Yobe, which according to him, was one of the most peaceful states in country.
“This is made possible because of the support and cooperation being given to security agencies, and the untiring efforts of the Executive Governor of Yobe.
“As Chief Security Officer of the State, Buni feels that he has both moral and legal obligations to support and cooperate with security agencies to achieve maximum peace in Yobe,”Samanja said.
Bolaji, author of the book, said Nigeria can not develop without peace.
He added that peace and security were collective responsibility, adding that the PBDC needed the cooperation of all Nigerians.
The event was attended by both serving and retired military generals, traditional rulers, heads of government agencies, political stalwarts and ECOWAS representatives.
