The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Monday expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda by recommending jail for anyone guilty of such offence.
The monarch expressed belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences.
He expressed the belief at the opening of a National Security Summit organised by the police in collaboration with The Sun Publishing Limited in Abuja.
“Mr President, we are 100 percent in support of you and your fight against corruption in this country and it is our belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences,” he said.
Also speaking at the summit, publisher of The Sun newspaper and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu advised that the anti-graft battle should be targeted at the real culprits and not political foes.
“Do not pursue corruption the way some of your predecessors pursued corruption. The fight should not be by fighting individuals that have not done anything, but you should fight anybody, no matter his tribe, ethnicity, colour or person. Whoever is involved in corruption should not be spared,” Kalu said.
“Corruption in the past had been fought based on political disagreement; corruption in the past had been fought because you don’t like a face.
“Don’t focus on catching any governor. If you cannot catch the governor because he has immunity, please don’t catch the mother like the former President.”
Speaking, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase urged the President to persuade the National Assembly to pass the Police Trust Fund Bill into law.
He said the Bill will address adequate funding for the police.
He said: “Through effective funding, the welfare needs of police personnel will be met and the challenge of corruption that has eroded professionalism and public respect for police officers will be addressed.
“Consider funding options for the police. In so doing, consideration may be given to the resuscitation and passage of the Police Trust Fund (Establishment, etc) Bill, which has been pending in the National Assembly since 2012.
“Like the Education Tax Fund, the bill seeks to tax corporate entities in order to complement the Federal Government in funding the police.
“If passed into law, it will give effect to the concept of public-police partnership while addressing the funding challenges of the Police on sustainable basis.
“This is because modern policing is a cost-intensive venture, but the benefits of a well-funded Police Force far outweigh the value of the budgetary investment. For it is only through adequate funding that the huge logistics demand of the police can be met and operational efficiency assured.”
Responding, Buhari assured that more fortification was on the way for the police. He added that more officers would soon join the police to strengthen their capacity to fight insurgency and other crimes.
Commenting further at the summit, theme: Community partnership approach to internal security and crime management, Buhari said his administration was considering Close Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring systems for major cities and towns to address security challenges.
The president reminded the police that no matter how well motivated, equipped and successful they think they are, they cannot operate without the support of the various communities.
“The need for community input to crime management and policing in Nigeria has become more imperative, considering our current national security challenges in which kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, transitional crimes, terrorism and other organised crimes evolve and threaten our national values and overall progress as a nation,” Buhari said.
Buhari restated his promise to empower the youth in order to address the challenges, including unemployment, illiteracy, radicalisation, negative peer group influence, substance abuse and erosion of family and moral values.
“The Federal Government is planning to employ at least an extra 110, 000 police officers and establish a properly trained and equipped Federal Anti-Terrorism Multi-Agency Task Force that will effectively address the challenge of future insurgency in a sustainable manner.”
On the installation of CCTV systems, the President said: “In order to further strengthen the security of the public space, consideration is being given to the extension of the CCTV Monitoring Systems across major cities and towns in the country while the police accountability mechanism will be strengthened.”
He also spoke of efforts being made to enhance the operational capacity of policemen through a tailor-made training programme that will give them the right civil orientation in their roles as guidance of the constitution.
