From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Prof. Chris Kwaja, Lecturer and Researcher at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State has urged political leaders in the country to spend more attention on the security of the country rather than on election campaigns.
Kesha said this in a Keynote Paper presentation in Nsukka on Monday during the Faculty of Social Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Hybrid Annual International Conference with the theme “Democracy, Security and Development,” in partnership with CLEEN Foundation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
He expressed concerns about how the political class in the country invested so much money and time in campaigning to win elections but spent little in security and good governance.
“Unfortunately, the political leaders are investing so much money and time in winning elections, but almost nothing in security and governance.
“They should rejig their strategies towards solving security challenges and strengthening democracy to move the country forward,” he said.
The security expert advocated the involvement of academia in politics, policymaking, and the development of strategies to fast-track national development and a robust economy.
“Involving the academia adequately will help to fast track national development as well as a robust economy that will make the country to be among the best economies in the world,” he said.
Also, Dr Ifesinachi Okafor of St Andrew’s University, Scotland, in her Lead Paper presentation virtually drew the attention of the conference to life in the sea and its significance to national security, and development
“The porosity of water borders as fisherfolks seeking to expand productivity in fisheries has its security implications.
“The effect of this trend on ocean governance cannot be overstated and calls for urgent need to beef up sea border security,” she said.
Okafor commended the faculty for the theme of the conference which she said was apt as well as the opportunity given to her to make her contributions.
In a remake, Prof Ike Onyishi, Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences UNN said that the theme of the conference was apt given that democracy in Africa has become an impediment to security and development following corruption and mismanagement by elected leaders.
“The theme of this conference is not only timely but also apt; particularly in Africa where the practice of democracy is increasingly becoming a serious threat to security and development on account of leaders’ mismanagement of opportunities presented by democratic governance.
“The idea of this conference is not to condemn democracy but to extol its virtues, which are capable of reshaping security and development across the world including Africa.
“The Faculty of Social Science UNN has through its series of academic activities laid the background for promoting knowledge and expanding the vision of the University of Nigeria as a critical infrastructure for liberating humankind and ensuring that we regain our freedom and dignity,” he said.
The Dean who appreciated the participants and resource persons expressed optimism that the conference will generate a quantum of ideas and actionable recommendations for deepening democracy, enhancing security, and facilitating development in Africa and in Nigeria in particular.
Also speaking Prof Freedom Onuoha, a lecturer from the Department of Political Science, UNN who was the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said that the theme of the conference dealt with national, Continental, and global horizons, adding that the concept does not only encompass but captures the three cure problems of Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a microcosm of this concept as it is impossible to have democracy or development without security.
“Democracy provides the ultimate framework for the people to realise their full ambitions and make it possible for the country to progress.
“There is a whole lot of concern if the democracy we are practicing is actual democracy practiced by in some Western countries,” he said.
Onuoha noted further that people are disturbed by the multi-dimensional security challenges facing the country.
“Recently terrorism, arm banditry, kidnapping, and militancy have posed serious problems in the country, and as an academic Institution we felt that the theme of this conference will ignite debate nationally and Internationally to find the solution to move the country forward,” he said.
The LOC chair expressed the gratitude of the faculty to the participants of the conference physically or virtually adding that it shows the volume of love and regard they have for the faculty.
