NIGERIA SECURITY SITUATION HAS IMPROVED, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – SEN. ABBA MORO • Bags Eminent Personalities’ Award
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Publisher, The Message International Magazine, Mr Tade Asifat; His Wife, Mrs Asifat; Senator Patrick Abba Moro and Popular Nollywood Actress, Empress Ene at the The Message International Magazine Anniversary/Eminent Personalities Awards Ceremony held in Lagos.
While many Nigerians may disagree that the security situation in Nigeria is worsening, the Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Sen. Patrick Abba Moro thinks otherwise. As an active participant in the governance of the country, the Senator dissected the difference that existed in the past and under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. He believes that there is a world of difference though security challenges still persist in various parts of the country. He also called on Nigerians to bolster their support behind the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, and other security agencies in order to achieve lasting security.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Sen. Patrick Abba Moro presented his thoughts in an Interview with Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper at The Message International Magazine’s Anniversary Celebrations and Third Edition of the Eminent Personalities Awards where the Distinguished Senator Bags EPA Senator of the Year Award in Lagos.
L-R: Senator Patrick Abba Moro; Area Commander, ACP Olabode Ojajuni and the Publisher, The Message International Magazine during the Third edition of Eminent Personalities Awards held in Lagos.
Trek Africa: Can you tell us briefly how you journeyed into politics?
Sen. Abba Moro: I was at the Polytechnic for 6 months and while on probation, I was elected by my colleagues as Chairman of the Polytechnic Senior Staff Association. And I rose to become the President of Polytechnic Senior Staff Association Nigeria (POSSAN), a position I held for about 5 years. I was enjoying my work as a teacher but I saw that the Local Government administration was not delivering to the people. That is how I threw my hat into the ring and my journey into politics started.
Trek Africa: What is your assessment of the security situation in Nigeria as of today?
Sen. Abba Moro: As someone who has been in the corridors of power as Minister of Interior, I can tell you that there is some level of abatement of security challenges that we have in this country. No doubt about it. In the past, bombs were thrown at will at our people in motor parks, schools, churches, that it got to the point when nobody knows when the next bomb will go off and people were scared.
Today, bombs still go off but they go off in very isolated, vulnerable areas and unexpected targets like the attack of UNIABUJA. I do know also that kidnapping and abduction has been on the rise but again I do know that the security agencies are not relenting. It is my hope that the entire challenges will certainly abate because there is some level of sincerity of purpose on the part of the agencies involved. The Army and Polce are working 24/7 and are also losing members of their Force yet they are surging on. I believe with the support of all Nigerian, this challenge of the security will abate. I know their expectations are high but we didn’t get here in a day.
Unveiling of The Message International Magazine by Senator Patrick Abba Moro (4th right) in Lagos.
Trek Africa: What is your take on the agitation of youths, especially the recent EndSARS?
Sen. Abba Moro: I am speaking from the position of knowledge as a participant in the whole scenario. Because it has not ended, Nigerians have every reason to worry. I like it that EndSARS was a genuine ventilation of anger. The consequences leading to death of nigeirans is a mismanagement of the process. Nigerians have a legitimate right to complain about what they feel uncomfortable about but whether their complaints is borne out of adequate knowledge of the situation is a different issue altogether.
It is the responsibility of the government to help people to ventilate not suppress their anger because anger expressed can provide solutions to problems. When you suppress anger, the people may be harmed or get killed and that is an addition to not solving the issue that gave birth to the problem in the first place. I think Nigerian security agencies should be more careful in handling protests by Nigerians. But Nigerians should also understand that there is no maginway of solving problems other than all of us sitting together, reasoning together, and working out solutions and applying them to soving problems.
L-R: Nollywood Actress, Empress Ene; ACP Olabode Ojajuni; Publisher, The Message International Magazine, Mr Tade Asifat and Master of Ceremony, Prince McDonald Otoba during the Presentation of Award of Excellence to Empress Ene at the Eminent Personalities Awards Ceremony held in Lagos.
Trek Africa: Do the youths have chances as we move towards 2023?
Sen. Abba Moro: The National Assembly has passed the Not Too Young To Run bill and this is an opportunity for Nigerian youths to aspire to run for office. If they come out, they will be supported by many Nigerians. I will also unequivocally say that you can’t run government without showing level of experience and maturity that comes with age. So while Not Too Young To Run has been signed, Nigerian youths must ensure that they run for offices alongiside older Nigerians.
There is no doubt that as we age, the younger Nigerians will take over but they will not be able to run this country without the support from the experience of the older generation. I believe that with time Nigerian youths will be able to run the government of their dream.
Trek Africa: How did the Senate come about the reversal of its position of the electoral bill?
Sen. Abba Moro: Given the outcry of Nigerians, the Senate reversed itself for the harmonized version of the bill that provides for electronic transmission of electoral results. This is what majority of Nigerians desire. It has been passed by both Senate and the House of Representatives currently awaiting the President’s assent.
L-R: Senator Patrick Abba Moro; Benue Artist, Kay Baba and Nollywood Actress, Empress Ene at The Message International Magazine ceremony in Lagos.
