MARSHALL PLAN: TOWARDS A SERVANT LEADERS' ROADMAP FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
National security may have a general definition but its peculiar application within the context of the way of life and government of a people in a defined corporate existence is what really translates to its operational application. In the United States of America, national security may extend beyond what happens outside America considered to be affecting its business stakes or its citizens. Nigeria however construe security problem differently and that is what the Chief Servant and governor of Niger state Dr Muazu Babngida Aliyu is working hard to fashion out a roadmap for.
Speaking within the confines of Servant Leadership style of government, the Chief Servant highlighted poverty, illiteracy, absence of quality health care, infrastructural deprivation, and divergent interests of fragmented political elites and consistent pillage of national treasury into private pockets as a major aspect that has burrowed deep into the security aesthetics of Nigeria. Security problem according to the Chairman Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) should not be restricted to military formations and procurement of weapons of different calibrations but a matter of development in line with quality leadership.
Advocating for comprehensive economic plan similar to the American ‘Marshall Plan’, the Niger state governor in his advocacy for a roadmap for national security said policy makers must first include all facet/strata of the society sample opinions and evolve a common agreed policy acceptable to all stakeholders for ease of implementation and sustenance of peaceful coexistence.
Why is Nigeria so blessed with abundant human and natural resources but gropes haplessly in search of peace? Expressing concern over the rhetorical question and the stark realities of insurgency across the country, the Niger state governor insisted therefore that a country that has provided for its people will always have loyal citizenry to a large extent. He therefore implied that emergence of violent groups is a reaction to administrative and infrastructural deficit in Nigeria. Submitting sombrely in this direction that no amount of military strategy and weaponry will keep the people more secured than that which dividends of democracy would provided.
The growing trend of violent acts by groups across the country continues to expose Nigeria to other African countries and the world as a failing state. Former Ghanaian President John Kurfor did not mince words when he declared that Nigeria is not a giant of Africa. He made his position clear which may be a reflection of the thinking of most leaders in Africa considering the serial challenges presently taking over the country.
With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding more than what three quarter of African countries enjoy and availability of human and natural resources yet poverty, health related mortality, underdevelopment and civil unrest characterise the present day Nigeria. Kurfors position cannot be wished off on a platter of perceived struggle of primacy between Nigeria and Ghana, but a sad reflection of people revolting based on glaring reality of thieving elites who have created empires out of the resources of dying majority of Nigerians. The vicious trend of pillage has therefore left the poor with nothing else to eat but the rich.
The sad reality about the present situation which has created various social monsters in terms of groups unleashing death and destruction in the country is as a result of bottled up hate and the need to vituperate. Unfortunately instead of toeing the lines of using volatile languages and engage in violence there are several peaceful nonviolent alternatives. Even the targeted rich are virtually unscathed save the few unfortunate ones. On the long run, the poor are at the receiving end of poverty, deprivation and violent deaths.
Nigeria must draw lessons from developed democracies, as earlier mentioned, the problem Nigeria battles with presently is the practise where every regional cleavage tends to hold on to its resources and political primacy, making it possible for other parts of the country to want to subordinate and relegated to socio-political and economic obscurity other ‘resource incapacitated’ states in the country. This may be the right time to practice the German example where rich states take from the abundance of their resources to assist others who have little or nothing.
Drawing lessons from the German example, the country which has managed to become fourth world supper power was once ravaged by the Second World War. Divided into West and East Germany, re-united to overcome all its challenges and choosing instead to live as brother’s keepers Germany has shown examples for fledgling democracies like Nigeria instead of staring red-eyed at each other dagger drawn just like we unfortunately experience.
Recently, Dr Aliyu was in Germany with five other governors to study the type of federalism practiced in Germany and a lot of differences were identified, studied and brought back to break the skewed federalism practiced in Nigeria. The governors were adequately intimated of the potency of SMEs in turning the economic fortunes of states around. Drawing lessons from two states in Germany, the visiting Governors going through the economic statistics of North Rhine-Westphilia, a state in Germany, were informed that SMEs account for 99 % of companies, employing up to 79.4 % of labour.
The German and Nigerian economy despite the wide chasm in the area of prosperity have some common features with contrasting outcomes that can serve good model for the governors to leverage on for a better Nigeria. The German government is a federation just like Nigeria with 12 states and 12,000 local governments. A population of 82million people with a GDP of $3.139 trillion (as at 2011) and the fourth largest economy in the world. Nigeria though second largest economy in Africa and key player in the Economic Community of West Africa only has a GDP of $414.5 billion as at 2011. The most important lesson learnt from the trip therefore is the fact that SMEs accounts for 2/3 of the German GDP.
According to the Servant Leader, lessons have been taken from the German experience insisting that if well implemented will place Nigeria on the map of economic, social and political greatness, translating to stable national unity. The Niger state Governor has indeed has so much to offer from his fountain of experience especially as a holder of a Ph. D in Strategic Studies and Political Economy, civil servant at the apex of his career and a Servant Leader for over five years, he is indeed an authority and his experience will help greatly in fashioning best practice as national security is concerned.
Propounding further on the issue of a viable roadmap for Nigeria in the area of physical application of security, the Chief Servant queried the poor data collection culture in Nigeria. He stated that the absence of data makes it difficult for comprehensive plans in having the best compliment of police and other security agencies supposed to be proportionate to the number of people in the country.
He decried the current statistics which shows that Nigeria has 371,000 police, the army 130,000, Air Force 15,000, the Navy 18,000 and members of the civil defense 50,000, totaling 584 security personnel to manage 160 million people and also to protect the nation from external aggression. The United Nations (UN) recommends a minimum police strength of 222 per 100,000 people. Going by the UN standard, Nigeria has enough police for just a little above 100,000 people out of a total population of 160 million people.
He added that as part of a holistic national security policy and national defence, foreign policy as well as trade and economic relations best practice in line with the new international order Nigeria must deal with the grave condition of systemic failure in the country especially as it concerns fighting corruption, indiscipline, economic security, environmental security and social justice.
Written By Ayegba Israel Ebije