Prof. Etannibi Alemika of the Department of Sociology, University of Jos, has said that stronger institutions and value re-orientation will address the current security challenges in the country.
Alemika said this at a valedictory lecture to mark his retirement from service, tagged ”Reflection on Underdevelopment and Insecurity in Nigeria” on Thursday in Jos.
According to him, the inability of successive governments in the nation to strengthen institutions and instill proper values on the people contributed largely to the rising insecurity in the country.
”The failure of successive governments at all levels to combat and contain the violent conflicts festered to terrorism, pervasive banditry and kidnapping.
”Farmer and herder conflicts that have led to the death of tens of thousands of citizens and the destruction of communities and assets in different parts of the country.
”Thus, the country is currently plagued by deepening insecurity that has imposed serious limitations on development,”he said.
The don, however, said that government institutions failed due to the failure of social institutions, such as family, educational system, religious organisations, among others.
”The institutions of government have failed because most social institutions beyond the state, which should be the value reservoir of society have disastrously failed in maintaining, acting and preserving values that were congruent with security and development.
”Religious institutions and leaders who are expected to provide the moral compass have been disappointing.
”They have abandoned scriptural revelations and prescription to embrace materialism, impunity, exploitation, oppression, hatred, and so on,”he said.
To address the ugly trend, Alemika called for the formation of national democratic social movements against inter-religious and inter-ethnic groups.
He called on Nigerians, particularly families, to grow, nurture, preserve and advance the value of ‘love thy neighbour as thyself’, adding that it would serve as precondition for the reversal of the country’s current crisis.
”Solving Nigeria’s crisis requires strong institutions formed by values that are rooted in the ordinances of God and commitment to common humanity, selflessness, empathy, justice and patriotism.
”In essence, Nigeria needs to have an understanding of the nature and causes of threats to it existence, development and security,”he said
