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Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi at the Delta Online Publishers Forum’s FRONTLINE programme.
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi speaking on the topic: “Insecurity in Nigeria: The way Forward” at the DOPF FRONTLINE programme.

Delta State 2023 governorship hopeful, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has looked into the terrible security situation in the country and came up with the verdict that resolving the problem rests squarely with Nigerians who must show determination to end it.

Besides, he also picked holes with the Federal government for being insensitive and lukewarm and its refusal to break the nation’s security operations into small microcosms.

Gbagi, a onetime minister of state for education made this proposition today, Sunday, May 09, 2021 at his Oginibo country home in Ughelli North Local Government Area as guest of FRONTLINE, an audience participatory interactive programme put together and hosted by members of Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) where he spoke on “Insecurity in Nigeria: The way forward.”

The lawyer, businessman and criminologist who said that his proposition was not new recalled that the former Defense minister and former army chief, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd)once called on Nigerians to defend themselves against security attacks, pointing out that this same position had been echoed by the incumbent Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen . Bashir Magashi who called on Nigerians to stand against their attackers and kidnappers and should not be afraid of armed bandits.

Expressing concern at the spate of insecurity in the country, Olorogun Gbagi said: “The problem we have about security in Nigeria is deceit, wayo (in pidgin English). Like every other thing, they have made security a means of frisking the people. To end insecurity there has to determination.”

He decried the current situation in Nigeria and absolved governor from blame saying that governors are merely labeled as chief security officers of the state but denied the power to control the operations of security agencies who take orders from Abuja. “The governors though chief security officers of their states but they are handicapped because they don’t have the power of control over the security agencies who take orders from Abuja.

Ghagi said: “The security situation in Nigeria calls for a state of emergency; where a state governor has no control over the security machinery in their states, the governors cannot be held accountable for any security lapse. The National Assembly should make amendment to the Constitution and make the security chief subject to the control governors in the states. Let’s not politicise the issue of security in the country. We must return to the drawing board; we must come together to talk on how we are to live together as a people.

“The security situation in Nigeria has gone out of hand; we should call the professionals and challenge them to give account of their stewardship as security officers for which they are being paid with tax payers’ money. Nigerians, journalists should demand from the security officers why there is insecurity in the land despite the salaries being paid to them with tax payers’ money.

“The problem will continue or even get worse if we do not demand from security chiefs what they are doing about security despite salaries being paid to them. Nigerians must take the responsibility of their security to heart.”

On the problem of farmers-herders, Gbagi in response to a question said grazing of cattle should not be a national issue. “Grazing is not the business of government because those who bring cows to graze are doing private business. It is a private concern which people have treated as a national thing. Cow is not the business of government; individuals state governments should determine how herdsmen should operate,” Gbagi contended.
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi &th from left in a group photograph with members of Delta Online Publishers Forum.

Earlier, DOPF Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli in a welcome address read on his behalf by the Deputy chairman, Mr. Chukwudi Abiandu said DOPF is a forum of notable media organizations made up of notable journalists who are mainly owners of active online news platforms with ownership cutting across Delta State and beyond.
Enebeli said the topic, “Insecurity in Nigeria, the way forward”, was chosen for Olorogun Gbagi to speak on in view of his being a governorship hopeful for the 2023 gubernatorial polls.
DOPF Chairman said: “In this very edition, we have selected the very problem that is currently bedeviling our nation Nigeria, which our state, Delta is part and parcel off. Insecurity. This has become a big issue, as no state or nation can develop without security of lives and property. And we believe that with your ambition, and possibly becoming the Chief Security Officer of Delta State, come 2023, this should be one of the first among your programmes.
“Delta, like other states is bleeding. There are signs of insecurity everywhere, as people are reported missing or kidnapped, and the now vexed issue of the clash between herders and farmers in many parts of the state, thus putting our food security in danger.”
Not far from you here sir, are Uwheru and Agadama communities, where women had been raped, their youths and men injured or killed. These communities for years, pay tax to the herders before they could access their farms. All these are signs of insecurity in and around us.