THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY: A GRADUAL SHIFT TO THE STATE OF NATURE.
By Isaac Ochegbudu
During my days in the university, I could remember one of my 300 level class where one of the erudite sociologist/ criminologist in my department said "Nigeria is a failed state". He went further to buttress his point with many other reasons. It is two years now after that class and I'm begining to realise the reality of that statment.
Yesterday, while I was listening to news on radio, I was saddened by the news of killings going on in various parts of the country. This generated a question in my mind "what kind of country are we in?" One of the core responsibility of every government across the globe is to provide security for her citizens. The security/protection of the lives and property of the citizens of a country is crucial to their well being and how they function to make the whole society work properly. While from a functionalist sociological perspective crime is an inevitable fact of life and it has it role to play if only it is minimal in a society. But when crime is perpetual and becomes and everyday feature of a society, then it raise the question of "do we have a government at all?
In recent years, the insistent attacks on communities by either herdsmen, insurgents or bandits has become a source of grave worry and fear in the minds of citizens. These attacks on communities in various parts of the country especially the north has become perennial. These Attacks also have shown the irresponsibility of the goverment and its security agencies.
While growing up, I can remember how the NIgerian military was used to bring peace to countries like Liberia, seria Leone, sundan, They were praise and were widely recognised accros the globe for their role and effort. This same military today have failed to bring an end to the lingering issue of insurgency for many years now. Some of those who were in the earlier mentioned countries are partt of this fight against insurgency in the country but not much success has been achieved. In a country where thousands of military personel are recruited into the armed forces yearly but insecurity still linger. what a pity?.
The resort to establishment of local, community and sub-regional security outfits such as civilian JTF, Amotekun etc. is a clear evidence that Nigeria is a failed state already and the government has failed woefully in its responsibility of providing security for her citizens. The creation of these 'micro' security outfits is as a result of the fear in minds of the citizenrs of government not being able to protect them. They have to do it themselves by resorting to self defense, these also has resulted in the militarisation of the society, where there is a constant flow of small and light arms and the presence of insistent abuse by these micro security outfits thereby increasing fear in the citizens. And also increasing the level of crime in the society; the case of KATO DA GORA in kaduna and AGATU YOUTHS in benue state is a clear example.
The citizens have resorted to protecting themselves because the government has failed on her part of the social contract. These has worsen the situation instead of curtailing it. The availability of small and light arms in the hands of citizens is leading to abuse of those who do not have these arms and the attacks of each other at the slight spark of disagrement. A pitiable condition.
The Nigerian government must take action in immediately to provide adequate security. It must take resposibility to averting the gradual shift of the society to the state of nature.
Yesterday, while listerning to news, a group of people from the southern part of kaduna state were voicing their concern on the constant attacks on their community and a recent attacik which has claimed the lives of some of their people. Only for the govermment and police to respond by saying that, there have not been report of any recent attack on that community and the citizens of the state should beware of rumour. I was shocked by the response.
Government must stop its lackadisity towards security. It must stand up to it responsibility of providing security for its citizens. The nation is gradually moving to the state of nature, where life is brutish and nasty; a survival of the fittest society ;a situation of war of all against all.The govermment must take action immediately, for security is crucial to the smooth functiming of a society and self defense will lead the society to chaos and anarchy.
Isaacochegbudu@gmail.com
0810619467, 09047416032
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