By Emmanuel Edukugho

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Professor Sam Oyovbaire has decried the deteriorating state of insecurity in the country, describing it as a “grave situation.” Speaking with Saturday Vanguard in Lagos, he urged the Federal Government to sit up and face the challenge squarely, not to see governing just for the fun of it. Excerpts:

What is your reaction to the prevalent insecurity in the country today considering that you were once a top government functionary?

Common sense should tell us that the nation is in a grave situation today. For 14 years, I was a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and had six children – three born in Zaria and three born abroad. When I looked back, I begin to feel sad because between the period 1972 to 1984 when I left Zaria, things were very normal, moving towards more integration and unity. I helped in the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon. It’s difficult for me to now grandstand. Even my children cannot go to Zaria, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano again.

Prof. Sam Oyovbaire

The situation is so bad. Whether the nation is alive, failing or failed is difficult to say at the moment. It is the duty of the state to ensure security of our nation and the citizens. Security is not about armoury, tanks and military weaponry, but it’s about confidence and trust between the people and the community. This is lacking.

How do we restore back this confidence and trust and have renewed sense of security?
As for security, the government should sit up. Those in government should not see governing just for the fun of it. They’ve got the mandate at federal, state and local levels. Security is the responsibility of the leadership. I’m not trying to pontificate.

Everybody should be involved – everybody must come to grip with the situation – academics, politicians, religious leaders, traditional rulers, etc, must come together to find solution to the security challenge. Government must sit up and get to grips with the situation. Not about prayer or praying for the situation to get better and things coming back to normalcy as it used to be in the past.

Are you not worried about what is happening in Jos with the recent massacre in the Plateau?
Yes, the situationin Jos today is frightening. In those days when travelling through Jos to Kaduna, I used to admire the beauty and serenity of the place. I wished to have property there, but today, the story is completely different. I am grateful I didn’t have anything in that part of the country. We must get to grip with the situation there. It is worrisome. I just hope we will get it right.