Federal Govt told to strip top Politicians, VIPs from using Policemen as escorts

A U.S.-based Nigerian-born lawyer, Mr Chidi Amamgbo, has advised the Federal Government to strip politicians and Very Important Persons of police attaches.

Amamgbo is an aspirant on the Labour Party platform for the vacant seat of Anambra South Senatorial District.

He gave the advice during an interactive session with newsmen in Awka on Sunday night.

“All prominent personalities, from governors to senators, House of Representatives members, and other notable public office holders need to be stripped of police protection.

“Knowing this, stakeholders will quickly show commitment to internal security by overhauling the system, if they no longer have access to police escorts,” he said.

Amamgbo said that the measure would ensure that the government come up with the right strategies to tackle insecurity and make the country safe again for citizens and strangers.

He decried a situation where security agents are assigned to protect politicians and a few wealthy individuals, leaving the larger society insecure.

“It’s either we rise together or fall together.

“It’s either we provide security for everybody, or we cannot have our own mini-army, while everybody else dies.

“The security situation in the country currently requires a law that will make it impossible for security agents to be assigned to wealthy people,” he said.

He advocated an upward review of security votes to governors, especially in states “where insecurity has become so pronounced that people now live in fear and hardly run their businesses or sleep in peace.

“Security votes allocated to governors should not be seen as pocket money.

“A committee made up of well-meaning citizens, who are professionals in their various fields, should be constituted to handle the funds, ensure proper utilisation, and enforce accountability,” Amamgbo said.

He also said that Anambra South was worse hit by current insecurity, such as kiddnapping, cultism and sit-at-home, among others ravaging the state.

Accordding to him, for several years, Anambra South, particularly Ihiala, Nnewi South, Orumba South have been under siege by non-state actors.

“They have turned our once-thriving communities into theatres of war and bloodshed.

“Our people, who are predominantly traders, industrialists, farmers, and professionals, now live in perpetual anxiety, unable to go about their lawful businesses,” Amamgbo said.

He said that the unfortunate development had led to the destruction of businesses, economic downturn and displacement of families from their ancestral homes.

He also said that the security challengs had resulted in the breakdown of law and order, with security agencies stretched beyond their limits.

Amamgbo, therefore, called on the State Government to step up efforts in the area to flush out criminals in Anambra South.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government inaugurated Operations Peace Must Prevail and Agunechemba recently to tackle security breaches in the state.

NAN also observed that there has been an appreciable decline in crime and criminality in the state, since the security outfits were inaugurated.

Amamgbo appealed to the Federal Government for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

He called on the international community to intervene and establish a truth and reconciliation committee that would address the agitations of the marginalised groups in order to end secessionists agitations in the country.

“But to the criminals, who are riding on the back of Kanu’s legitimate and passionate desire to uplift the Igbo, I have one message for you: we will not succumb to your terror”.

“If elected as senator, I will leverage my contacts as a United States lawyer to drive legislative and policy solutions that will reclaim our communities from the grip of criminals,” Amamgbo said.

He further promised to promote initiatives that would empower youths with skills and capital, in order to divert their attention from crime and criminality.

Amamgbo also promised to push for laws that would strengthen local policing structures, enabling community-based security frameworks, if elected.

“I will facilitate stronger synergy between law enforcement agencies and traditional institutions to ensure intelligence gathering and swift responses to security threats,” Amamgbo said.

The aspirant promised to lobby for increased funding for security infrastructure, including surveillance technology and body cameras, to track and neutralise criminal elements, when elected.

NAN reports that campaign for the election of a replacement for late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah has intensified in Anambra South Senatorial District but no date has been fixed by INEC. (NAN)