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Smart Adeyemi opposes use of Illegal Arms, proposes bill
Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West Senatorial District has condemned the activities of gun wielding thugs and the uncontrolled arms and ammunitions in Nigeria.
He said arms and ammunitions in the hands of criminal elements has fueled killings and attacks on politicians, prominent citizens and the innocent Nigerians while calling on the upper legislative chamber to pass a bill he sponsored to establish a Commission in that regard.
Describing the Proliferation of firearms as “phenomenonal, Adeyemi said the situation was already threatening the nation’s National security.
The bill: “Nigeria National Park Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Other related matters, 2020, he stressed, would administratively tackle illegal possession of firearms.
He added that the Commission if established, will identifying sources and routes of small arms and ammunitions; identifying those involved in the illicit trade; and providing harmonization of intelligence and information collection.
Noting that the local root causes of conflicts are numerous and diverse, Adeyemi, however, said that in all local conflicts, the diffusion of illegal arms and weapons of terror has played a decisive role in the escalation and intensification of these conflicts.
He said, “the proliferation of these weapons affects the intensity and duration of violence and encourages militancy rather than a peaceful resolution of unsettled differences.”
The lawmaker stated that, “in Nigeria, this has become a serious security challenge, adding “there is general insecurity as most parts of the country experience high level crimes perpetrated using illicit arms.”
Citing a United Nations report, Adeyemi raised concerns that “a substantial percentage of illegal arms that is in circulation in West Africa are in Nigeria.
“This has fueled violent conflicts as witnessed in the Niger Delta, kidnapping in the South East, Armed robbery pandemic in the South West, Ethnic-Religious violence on the Plateau, and the Boko Haram operations in the North-East, a situation which has plunged the nation into serious state of insecurity.”
He warned further that the uncontrolled arms have also impacted on the country’s democracy and development negatively.
“Electoral violence by gun-wielding thugs and assassinations of several political leaders since 1999, have jeopardized free and fair elections in many states of the federation,” the lawmaker said.
“There are numerous ways by which small arms can be smuggled into the country because of their light-weight and concealable nature. Trucks have been used to smuggle arms into the country, while a number of them are brought in on donkeys, camels and on foot.
“Similarly, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) are transported through waterways, boat to add of arms from great lake’s conflict areas have been reported to have been discharged at Warri and Bonny towns of Niger Delta.
“Also, Small Arms Survey (SAS) has reported on Malian arms smugglers packing small arms in waterproof sacks, attaching them into the bottom of bots for transfer to countries along the River Niger,” Adeyemi said.
“The effects of illegal arms and weapons of terror in Nigeria are self-explanatory and calls for concerted effort by all and sundry to successfully prosecute this war against terror. The support, collaboration and involvement of all genuine stakeholders is a condition precedent to winning the war,” he added.
Senator Adamu Aliero while lending his voice in support of the passage of the bill, accused men of the Nigerian Customs Service of conniving with arms dealers to smuggle in small arms into the country through the borders.
He added that if the bill is not passed into law by the National Assembly, “violence will continue” unabated.
Another lawmaker, Emmanuel Bwacha in his contribution, cited the United States as a country without strong gun control laws, adding that “they are paying dearly for it today”.
“It is better to have a control of arms, than allow every dick and Harry to possess arms. In doing this, we must do it with genuine intention,” Bwacha advised.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC – Nasarawa West), lamented that the proliferation of small arms has become a thriving business because those involved in the illicit trade are not apprehended by the relevant security agencies.
The bill which scaled second reading on the floor during plenary was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, to report back in four weeks.
I have been watching with keen interest the evolving political drama, drama, yes, I call it drama, in Kogi State and where the season film is going and when it will end. Many a time, the gladiators in the state throw brick bats at one another and in the process, the pebbles hit innocent standby constituents.
Of particular worrisome trend is the recent outburst by the Senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan accusing, Honourable Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, the honourable Minister of Steel Development of low performance, the accusation that is uncalled for and to say the least, unwarranted.
Not only that, the Senator also accused the Minister of veering into the areas that are not directly under his supervision. She mischievously advised the Honourable Minister to limit and concentrate himself more on wooing foreign and local investors in the area of steel development and utilization, citing Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills as an example.
The Senator also deliberately forgot that there should and must be synergy between the ministry and all the agencies under it. if she still does not know this, she should go for orientation or briefs on her legislative matters vis a vis her oversight functions.
If the Senator does not know, let her be told that the Hon. Minister is a polished politician and a seasoned technocrat who has brought into the fore his vast background in life in the way and manner he has been discharging his duties as a minister holding one of the most sensitive ministries in the country.
Before the Senator graduates and bags her Pull Him Down Syndrome (PHD) from the University of Malice and Hate, she should know that the lane she is travelling in her political journey is not profitable nor rewarding at all. Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu is a forward looking Nigerian who would not want to be distracted from his professed determination to leave his job better than, he met it.
We have heard enough political mayhem in Kogi in recent past, let no one foist another crisis on the state through reckless, unrefined, and putrid comments. It will be recalled that mid last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did a minor reshuffle in his cabinet, the President found the Honourable Minister fit and proper just as he was given a clean bill to continue with his good job in the ministry.
As the year 2027 inches by, Senator Natasha should for goodness sake stay on her lane and stop meandering into other lanes in order to keep Kogi clean of clashes. Not only this, she should train her tongue to avoid unnecessary vituperation. It should be noted as well that nobody has monopoly of verbal attack against other people, let the Senator check herself so that she will not be getting stones back as she throws pebbles.
A word is enough for the wise.
Concerned people and leaders of thought in Kogi State should call the Senator to order. It is high time she knew that Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu is a tree planted by the Almighty Allah that cannot be uprooted by any mortal. political differences or affiliations must not blindfold individuals from reality on ground.
Fading politicians who don’t have reputation must not besmear those who have pretty pedigree and want to keep it.
Musa Wada, a public affairs analyst sent this piece from Abuja
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Open letter to the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo Usman over achievements in one year
I am writing this open letter to you to commend you for your excellent performances so far in your short stay in office as the governor of our dear state. Indeed your performance so far has vindicated those of us who even before your assumption of office stayed true to our believe that you are our best foot forward to make our state greater.
You have not disappointed us so far because even your greatest critics and political opponents would not disagree with the majority views in the state that indeed Kogi state is working. Your leadership has brought within a short time to the state developments in all its physicality. I can say with pride that your administration is now regarded as the end to an era of bad governance to the beginning of an era where the people count first and this is justified by your policies and programmes implemented to bring succour to our people. The prompt payments of salaries and pensions to civil servants and retirees of the state government and your social welfare targeted at making the aged live comfortably in their old age and your programmes for youth development are a testament that your administration is for the people,by the people and of the people of Kogi state.
I commend you for making sure that peace justice and development is not an exclusive development for any particular zone of the state but for all. I want you to continue in your great effort of uniting our state with your all inclusive deliverance of democratic dividends to all the parts of the state this is because in history no state has achieved sustainable development without a leader with vision,strategic plan and compassion for all its people.
We have seen so far that your administration is the very testament to the type of leadership we have all yearned for in the state. I commend you also for not going after any political opponent because you know that your performance will indeed silence them all and I believe you shall overcome because a pessimist is a well informed optimist.
Thank you for giving us the hope that our state is going to be great again under your administration. We are confident that going forward more developments will come to our state by your inspiring leadership.
Long live the governor of Kogi state.
Long live Kogi state,
Long live the Federal republic of Nigeria.
Hon John Lawal
Coordinator Tinubu support team
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OPEN LETTER TO THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF SPECIAL DUTIES AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS PERFORMANCE AND STERLING LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN OFFICE IN THE LAST ONE YEAR
We are writing this open letter to you patriotically commending you for your excellent performances and your sterling leadership qualities which has transformed and reformed your Ministry by changing its narratives for the best in the last one year of your tenure as the Minister of special duties and intergovernmental Affairs.
We have in our determination to peer review the performances of the appointees of our renewed hope President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu especially the Minister’s found your leadership of the Ministry so inspiring because it translated into making the Ministry one of the best ran Ministries, departments and agencies of government in this dispensation for which we are very proud. We also commend you for not blowing your trumpet but instead allowing your work to speak for you in all its ramifications. The agencies and departments under your Ministry are now known to be working assiduously in fulfilling it’s mandates by the launching of the strategic plans document which is already by your body language and leadership being implemented religiously.
You are indeed the pride of your people, the Gbagi’s nation in the political scene because you have shown that your leadership and political leitmotives is to work hard at all time to bring about positive changes in your areas of authority and this is exemplified by the performance of the National lottery trust fund which is now visible in the lives of the citizens by it’s excellent interventions in critical areas of needs in all part of the country, the Nigerian lottery regulatory commission which is working very hard in the issuances of licenses to deserving agents thereby increasing the revenue to the federal government from the proceeds of gaming and the National lottery trust fund that is today a strong institutions regulating the lottery sector of the country.
We commend you for your leadership which deals in hope.
Finally, going forward we are assured of more excellent performances from you especially as in this part of the world it is known that “the day that would be good is known from it’s mornings”. Your performance so far has justified the reason why our President who is known to be a great recruiter of leaders recruited you for this assignment. We thank you for being your people’s pride. Accept our congratulations.
Yours sincerely
Hon John Lawal
Coordinator Tinubu support team
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