Nation’s Security Indispensable To Development- Olonisakin, Chief Of Defence Staff

For sustainable growth and development of the country in all facets of human endeavours, national security is indispensable.

This assertion was made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, at the Ife Business School, 5th Distinguished Lecture & Award Series in honour of Chief Oyekunle Alex-Duduyemi, OFR, Aro & Asiwaju of Ife at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

Olonisakin who was the guest speaker, speaking on the theme: IMPROVING THE STATE OF SECURITY IN NIGERIA THROUGH GOOD GOVERNANCE AND INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP”.

The Chief of Defence Staff was represented by Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak, the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation.

Olonisakin expressed further, Nigeria had witnessed numerous cases of cattle rustling, farmers and herders conflict in North West, North East North Central regions.

He added that limited cases have also been recorded in the other region of the nation, which has led to destruction of lives and properties.

According to him, Nigeria had lost millions of naira apart from fear that griped the heart of the local populace especially those that engaged in farming activities.

Olonisakin said that the challenges had caused food scarcity, loss of revenue and a drop in the country’s GDP.

The chief of defence staff attributed the new conflicts and the reappearance of old conflicts between and among communities and other major violent crisis scenario in Nigeria to the proliferation of small and light weapons.

The General identified that political thuggery, cultism, murder for monetary or political gains and other selfish gains have resulted illegal importation of small and light weapons into the country.

The chief of defence staff believed that the scourge has suffocates the flow of foreign direct investment and must be tackled through multi-dimensional approach.

“The core of the matter is that every violent conflict today is enabled by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

” Small arms and light weapons proliferation has fuelled and supported insurgency,militancy, ethno-religious crisis and many other nefarious activities in across the Nigerian state leading to high level loss and properties.

“More so, it has bastardised security perception, suffocates the flow of foreign direct investment and punctured the impression of ease of doing business,” he stated.

Olonisakin opined that both global, domestic and regional trend of security with the contribution of the academia and impact of every citizens to the security issues would bring positive result.

He tasked Nigerians to shift from core security actions of internal conflicts and asymmetric warfare and procure in-depth solutions to solve the challenges facing the nation.

“A few of the measures involved include security sector reforms,capacity building, strategic reconsideration and sustenance of transformation process.

” An all-inclusive security sector reforms involving the military, paramilitary and other stakeholders is expedient”, he raised.

Olonisakin called for improving strategic communications and information sharing so as to facilitate effective coordination of operations for a robust national situational awareness.

“There is also the need to establish the framework and appropriate implementation plans to support the national security objectives” he suggested.

The General appealed to the government to ensure atmosphere of safety, peace of mind and should guaranteeing the welfare of lives and properties of Nigerians for sustainable growth and development.

“The ability of any government to live up to this responsibility depends largely on its security architecture

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Rector. IFE Business School, Dr. Makinwa Adereti, said that one of the responsibility of the government is to provide adequate security for their citizenry.

“The essence of government in Nigeria is the security of lives and properties of his people as expressly stated in section 14 sub-section 1 (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” Adereti stated.

He added that security cannot be separated from good governance, this is a precondition for sustainable socio-political and economic development.

In his words, “we have carefully chosen the theme for this lecture, it is no doubt that the theme is apt at this critical period of our national existence where Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity.

” This goes to express the fact that national security is one of the drivers of sustainable development of any nation.

“Any nation that fails to provide adequate security for its citizen is likely to fail”,

According to him, national security must not limited to protection from external aggression and territorial policing alone, but should extended to social, political, economic, health and food security, amongst other aspect.

IFE Business School is a federal government licensed Institution which award National Innovative Diploma (NID) in Banking Operations; Business Management; Insurance and Financial Management; Shipping Management; Transport and Logistics Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Library Information Management.

To this end, he posited that the Institution has institutionalised Oyekunle Alex Duduyemi Annual Leadership Lecture Series, (OYALS).

In her lecture delivered at the auspicious occasion, former Deputy-Governor, Ekiti state, Prof.(Mrs.) Modupe Adelabu adduced that education is the vital tools that can promote good governance.

Speaking on the topic: “PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE AND INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA” she opined that successful innovative leadership practices depend, mainly on the depth and breadth of leadership knowledge, variety of creative skills, strong shared values and extraordinary talents of the innovative leaders.”

Adelabu who is the Chairman, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) said, the task of leadership must be seen as a serious task and people whom it should be committed to, must be serious -minded and visionary individual, because this is only when present and sustainable development can be attained.

Also, Prof. Olalekan Yinusa, former commissioner for Budget and Planning, Osun State commended the Rector of IFE Business School for his innovative ideas.

Yinusa who represented Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Governor, Osun State called on the leaders and the led to cooperate together so as to achieve good governance.

He added that sustainable development is the work of the government, called on the three tiers of government to ensure that good governance is achievable.

Oyetola warned the masses against spreading of unverified information that can affect the progress made in peace keeping.

Paying tributes to his friend, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said, “the work of Duduyemi will keeps speaking for him because they both clamour for self-government.

The Afenifere chieftain who has been friend with Duduyemi for over 50 years said, this is reward time for my friend as all what he clamoured for while growing up is recognized.

He thanked the founder of IFE Business School by honouring the Aro & Asiwaju of Ife.

In her tributes, Mrs. Bose Adeogun, daughter of the honoree adduced that, “God blessed the family with a unique father, grand father and great grand father who is meticulous, God fearing, disciplinarian, financial literacy and above all a quintessential collosus.

Despite his old age, he wakes up by 6:00 am and goes to office everyday.

In the same vein, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, Ooni of Ife acknowledged the effort of the Rector of the school for the initiative and be a visionary leader.

Ooni Ogunwusi pledges to support him in celebrating the past, present and the future hero, described Chief Oyekunle Alex-Duduyemi as an exemplary leader.

He said that he has set up the mobile heritage for descendant of Oduduwa and put them on archive for future remembrance.

Ooni described the honouree as very intelligent, political leader before and after the independent, a visionary, energetic, lawyer and business man worthy of emulation.

The honoree, Chief Oyekunle Alex Duduyemi, said, he was totally surprised by this honour as he was not for once expected it.

To the Board and Management of IFE Business School, I wholly accept and appreciates the Institutionalisation of AnnualLlecture in my name ( OYALS).

With this honour, it will make me not to rest on my oars but to keep striving to make our society a better one.

Among the awardees are: Chief Benjamin Adeyemi, Chairman/CEO BENADE Group of Companies, Osun State; Alhaji Mutiu Oladejo, Mudet Real Solutions Nig. Ltd.

Others are: Chief Agboola Odeyemi, the Obasewa of Ife, Chairman/CEO, JAO Investment Company and Hon. Tunde Olatunji, Chief Whip, Osun State House of Assembly.

The event was graced by opinion and leaders of thought, royal fathers, scholars, educationalist, politicians, captain of Industries, entrepreneurs, students and the general public.