A coalition of civil societies in Osun has written a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari against the minister of Interior and former Governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola, demanding his removal or redeployment to another ministry.
In the petition submitted to the Office of the President and sighted by Our Correspondent, the groups noted that Aregbesola that recent utterances of the Minister of Interior, are today heating the polity in Osun State to a point where residents now fear for their lives.
They added that while superintending over Security Agencies under the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has now turned security details attached to him by these Agencies into tools of political warfare, clearly undermining the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Police Force in maintaining security in Osun State.
The groups then demanded that the President cautions the minister immediately adding that where he(Aregbesola) can not be cautioned, he (Aregbesola) should be sacked or redeployed.
Read Full Petition Below
PETITION SUBMITTED BY A COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN OSUN STATE, AGAINST THE DANGEROUS AND SOCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS OF THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR, MR. RAUF AREGBESOLA
INTRODUCTION
Part 1 (Code of Conduct for Public Officers) of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly provides in Section 1 (General) that “A Public Officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.”
Section 9 (Abuse of Powers) of the same Fifth Schedule provides that “A Public Officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such an act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy.”
Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, the Honourable Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a Public Officer, one saddled with the responsibility of ensuring public security and management of emergencies. As Honourable Minister of Interior, he oversees several organs of Government including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Fire Service. These are Agencies of Government that ensure that Nigerians, no matter their inclinations, enjoy the security of their lives as provided for by the Constitution of the Federal Republic.
According to the 5th schedule of the constitution as referenced, Mr. Aregbesola is expected to act only in ways that promote National Security and does not expose Nigerians anywhere, to threats to their lives and property. Where the contrary becomes the case, erring government officials must receive appropriate sanctions, while members of the public with a voice, must rise to the occasion and condemn every act of irresponsibility on the part of an erring public officer.
POLITICAL UTTERANCES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SECURITY IN OSUN STATE
Mr. Rauf Aregbesola in the past one week has engaged in public shows of rascality, encouragement of followers to behave in manners that undermine the superintendence of the present administration in the State, denigration of Elder Statesmen, among many others.
We reckon that a public officer, expected to act in manners that promote public security, but who is seen making utterances that encourage violence, insubordination and disrespect to constituted authority, is acting a script that can only promote disunity, acrimony and unrest.
We state unequivocally that recent utterances of the Minister of Interior, are today heating the polity in Osun State to a point where residents now fear for their lives. While we understand the expediency of political games, we do not see any reason why a government official will be leading a process that is leading to unrest.
UTILIZATION OF GOVERNMENT PARAPHERNALIA FOR THE PROSECUTION OF POLITICAL BATTLES
While superintending over Security Agencies under the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has now turned security details attached to him by these Agencies into tools of political warfare, clearly undermining the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Police Force in maintaining security in Osun State.
We have seen recently how men of the NSCDC, the NIS and the NCS sporadically shot in the air to terrify citizens of the State in Osogbo and other towns within the State. We refer to the official release of the Osun State Police Command, concerning the actions of men of the NSCDC, NIS and NCS.
According to the Command’s Spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, “Today, Monday, at about 5.40 p.m, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola was moving in a convoy of personnel of NSCDC, Correctional Service, Immigration, as well as some unidentified armed people, suspected to be political thugs along Orisumbare/MFS Road, Osogbo.
“Suddenly, some of the security escorts of the minister started shooting sporadically into the air without any provocation nor attack, thereby causing members of the public to scramble for their safety. Thirteen empty shells of G-3, assault and AK-37 rifle were recovered along the road after the minister’s departure. No casualty, however, was recorded”
The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force is aware and has expressly stated it, that men of the aforementioned security agencies, in collusion with unidentified armed thugs, terrified innocent citizens in Osogbo and other towns of the State, on Monday, 14th February, 2022.
From all intents and purposes, the shooting was aimed at instilling fear in the minds of perceived political opponents and showing to the public that Mr. Aregbesola possesses capacity to set the State on fire if tempted to so do. While it remains illegal to use Officers of Security Agencies who should be protecting the public to terrorize same members of the public, it is criminal for a Public Officer to be the one behind such acts of insurrection and criminality.
PROMOTION OF INTER-AGENCY WAR
By set structure of governance, men of the Nigeria Police Force are primarily responsible for the maintenance of law and order, while also being directly responsible for prosecution of persons found guilty of crimes. The NSCDC, also saddled with responsibilities that closely agree with the mandates of the NPF, is required to work with the Police in ensuring a safe society for all.
However, having had its officers utilized as agents of terror on Monday, 14th February 2022, the NSCDC is today at loggerheads with the Police Force in Osun State. After the Osun State Command of the NPF had released its official position on the shootings that occurred in Osogbo on Monday, the NSCDC immediately went on the defensive, claiming that its men only protected the Minister from an attack from hoodlums, a claim that the Police had since faulted.
Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, despite being responsible for coordination of public security, is, by his actions, promoting disunity and insubordination between two key security agencies that should ordinarily be cooperating. This portends grave danger for the maintenance of peace and security within Osun State and indeed, Nigeria.
It is needless to say, that a political war, orchestrated by a public officer, now culminating in an inter-agency war can only spell doom for maintenance of order in a country that is already battling with several security challenges.
ABDICATION OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PETTY POLITICAL FIGHTS
Between October 2020 to December 2021, over 10 jailbreaks occurred in Nigeria, letting loose into the unsuspecting society, more than 5000 inmates across the country. The jailbreaks were not without needless shedding of blood of Correctional service officials and innocent citizens. We need not restate the fact that administration of the Nigeria Correctional Service is the exclusive responsibility of Mr. Aregbesola as the Honourable Minister of Interior.
One may not need to search too far for the remote causes of increased crimes such as bank robberies, assassinations and other such crimes. A porous correctional service that sees thousands of convicted inmates let loose into the society, may be a good place to look.
It is to be stated that the number of jailbreaks in the referenced period is unprecedented in the over 60 years existence of the country. This speaks about the administrative incompetence of Mr. Aregbesola whose superintendence over the Interior Ministry has seen it degenerate into one that cannot secure its own Correctional Centres.
Where Mr. Aregbesola should be seen finding solutions to these now-common jailbreaks, he has been busy promoting unrest in Osun State.
AREGBESOLA’S TRACK RECORD
While we understand that security agencies conduct background checks on Ministerial nominees before they are confirmed, we wish to state that the checks on Aregbesola were neither sufficient nor painstaking before he was made Minister of Interior.
We recall that under him as Governor of Osun State, a group of thugs and criminals were commissioned as Government’s unofficial enforcers, code-named “State Boys”. At every government function, it was characteristic of Mr. Aregbesola to reference the presence of these hooligans whom he gave the job of silencing opposition and helping him perpetuate the political fiefdom that he was seeking to build.
These urchins have today metamorphosed into land grabbers, thieves, murderers and political thugs who are making life unbearable for citizens of the State. This man, such a man as Mr. Aregbesola should neither be anywhere near the administrative office of a security agency, nor should be given the chance to politically head one.
OUR PRAYERS
1. That the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, calls Mr. Rauf Aregbesola to order and charge him to discharge his official responsibilities instead of going about causing civil unrest. Where he cannot be cautioned, we demand his outright sack or redeployment if he cannot act responsibly in line with the dictates of the Office he presently holds. A Public Officer must never be seen acting contrary to the spirit and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
2. Where the Federal Government is unable to act swiftly to caution Mr. Aregbesola, that the Senate of the Federal Republic sanction his sack and impress it on Mr. President to effect same.
3. That the National Assembly, through the Senate, invite him to explain why has chosen to be a promoter of insecurity instead of a fighter of same.
4. That for now, all security agents attached to him, except men of the Nigeria Police, be withdrawn so that they are not turned to agents of criminality, used to undermine the Nigeria Police Force.
5. That the APC Gubernatorial Primaries scheduled for Saturday, 19th February, be adequately secured by men of the Nigeria Police to prevent breakdown of law and order. We also request that other security agencies be barred from securing the primaries as it has been proved that they cannot be trusted to remain neutral in the present situation.
CONCLUSION
We submit this petition in good faith, being good-spirited Civil Society stakeholders who desire the best for Osun and expect quick action, to forestall crisis in Osun State.
Thank you, as we anticipate your quick action.
