Agba
Nchor is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). Before he
took a bow and left the stage of active police work, he was instrumental
in routing drug couriers from the dreaded Kuwait zone at the Gowon
Estate area of Egbeda, Lagos State, which served as home for drug
traffickers, addicts and suspected robbers. In this chat with JULIANA
FRANCIS, Nchor expresses fears over the continual bloodletting in the
country, stressing that Nigeria is at war. He says that if Jonathan bows
to pressure and does not contest; another orgy of bloodbath may be
unleashed by the Niger Delta people, who see him as their ‘brother.’
Excerpts;
What’s your reaction about the Chibok abducted girls?
The abduction of those girls is political arrangement! During political campaign in 2011, some political opponents said they would make the country ungovernable and immediately they said this, Boko Haram surfaced. Today, they’re terrorising the country based on what they said. Some of us believe that it’s an arrangement. If it’s not an arrangement, how do you explain the fact that what the politicians threatened, is now happening? It means they know that Boko Haram existed even then.
Do you believe that Boko Haram is waging a war against Christians?
I don’t believe that Boko Haram is waging a war against Christians anymore. You can see now that they attack churches and mosques, in fact everybody! Generally, they just want to destabilise the country.
Do you see Nigeria breaking as the solution to the insurgency in the country?
For the country to break up is not the solution to the present problem. We’ve come a long way. 100 years! There’re people who have properties in different parts of the country and you’re talking about us breaking up. So many other people have intermarried and are still intermarrying.
What we should do, is for our leaders to meet these Boko Haram members and dialogue with them. This perhaps will help in checking the Boko Haram problem. Would you say that Nigeria is at war presently? Just looking at the security situation in the country, shows that Nigeria is at war! Boko Haram members are armed to the teeth with all sort of sophisticated weapons and magazines wrapped around them.
They attack with seven, nine and 10 vehicles. Look at the numbers of people they had killed so far. Such a number might not even be killed in a war with another country. Yes, we’re at war! We’ve fought civil war in this country and we know when enemy forces attacked. But this war is without notification. People would be sleeping and they would go there and burn down the homes, with the occupants inside. Both Christians and Muslims are affected.
As ex-policeman, how do you feel seeing soldiers at the forefront of the fight against Boko Haram, when it was policemen before?
You heard what I said. This is war! Who are those that are supposed to fight war? It’s the soldiers! What we’ve heard so far, is that most of the key leaders in Boko Haram are not Nigerians, but people from other countries. We heard they’re from Niger Republic and Mali, so police can’t fight this war! We’re in war! Police are trained for counter-terrorism, while military are trained to enforce national security and international aggression.
What’s the way out of the raging storm in the country?
The way forward, is for all the leaders in the northern states; the political and eminent leaders and all those involved in this Boko Haram war, to come together, dialogue and find a solution to this menace with the government. With dialogue, the issue of Boko Haram will cease!
Do you think the confab will be able to take care of the issue of Boko Haram?
The convener of the confab had good intention, but the members of the confab are creating problems in that place! I don’t think they are working towards the idea and ideals which the convener earlier planned. The convener of the confab knew what he planned and wanted. But the argument going on in the subcommittees shows that they’re not serious. I don’t think they’re going to achieve anything good there for Nigerians.
Would you then describe the confab as a waste of money?
It’s a waste of money and time! Let me however not conclude yet, since I don’t know what they’ll write in their reports. But from the debates we’ve been seeing on television and in the National Dallies, they don’t have anything good to offer Nigerians.
Some people have argued that the insurgency will stop once President Jonathan halts his ‘second or third term’ shot at the presidency seat. What do you say to that?
Merely judging from what is going on in the country, you’ll see that would be the solution. But you can’t force Jonathan to stop his bid for the seat of presidency. He should be allowed, just like any other citizen of Nigeria to contest for any position. This matter had been dragged to the court, and a court says he was qualified to contest. The constitution allows him to contest. He had only enjoyed his first term.
The other term they’re talking about, is not his term. He spent two years for the late President Yardua, so people shouldn’t count it for him. He’s not God and didn’t say Yardua should die! He didn’t pray for it and since it happened, it became his luck. They should allow him to go for his second term. If he’s not allowed to go for second term, there might be problem.
Another group will come up, to begin to foment trouble, making the country also ungovernable for any other person or president. They’ll say: ‘when our brother was in government, you people didn’t give him peace and chance to rule.’ I foresee such happening. Boko Haram doesn’t want any other ethnic person to rule Nigeria, so how can they too rule in peace?
Are you insinuating that Niger Delta people will not give peace a chance, since ‘their brother,’ President Jonathan, was not given such a chance?
Exactly! They too would also cause trouble. Since Jonathan came on board, there has been stability in the production of crude oil. There has also been increase in the production of crude oil, from the Niger Delta region. He may have done more, if he had been allowed.
Do you think CCTV will help in the fight against terrorism in the country?
It has been done in other parts of the world and its working. They should implement it in Nigeria. But I still insist on dialogue being the solution to Boko Haram insurgency. Boko Haram knows why they’re terrorising Nigeria and Nigerians. They have an agenda.
Or how would you explain the coming of Boko Haram at this time, when Nigeria is trying to sustain peace in its nascent democracy? They’re destabilising us by bombing everywhere and its means that the information, unwittingly given out by the politician who threatened that the country would be governable has element of truth.
Why did you retire from police and choose to go into politics?
It’s because of the situation in the country. As an experienced person, I know I have all it takes to manage security and politics together.
Why did you choose PDP of all parties?
I joined PDP because it’s nationally accepted, no matter the critics and criticism. I believe in the party’s ideology. Check out all political parties in Nigeria, you’d find that PDP is the only political party that’s not biased in picking national leaders. I’m from Cross River, Obudu Local Government and I declared for PDP in the state. My ward is Otugwang central.
Is your governor Liyel Imoke performing well?
My governor is doing well and hardworking. There’s peace there. He’s up and doing, considering that Cross River is given small budget. We have financial problems in Cross River State. We have problem of the 76 oil wells given to Akwa Ibom, it’s affecting the economy of the state.
The Bakassi issue that was ceded to Cameroun is also affecting the state. The governor is doing his best with the small resources he has. If you get to Cross River, you’ll know the governor is working. Check out Lagos State, where they have billions of naira, can’t you see that in ordinary Ejigbo Local Government, nothing is working there? At Cross River, in every local government, the roads are tarred.
Who’s planning to take over as the new governor in the state?
I heard that it’s zoned to the northern Cross River and for equity and peace to reign, and for us to live as sisters and brothers, let them zone it to the north as agreed. That’s what’s agreed by the hierarchy of the party. It has gone to Cross River South and central before.
What your suggestions for Nigerians?
They should learn to live in peace and love another. We should behave like Americans. They’re proud and never discriminate! No matter our ethnic group, we’re one Nigerians! We should not discriminate in who will rule or not. It’s a bad concept! Another thing is that Nigeria government doesn’t know how to make use of retired officers.
If a man retires at 50, what does he do with the rest of his life and with his experience and we’re talking about Boko Haram? Such officers are still very young and can contribute to the security of this country.
They’re trained specialist and know what to do. When an officer is retired at a young age, the brain and experiences are wasting! In USA, you work as a police officer until you’re 70 or 80 years, but in Nigeria, 55 years is all.
A 55-year-old person is still a very young one. Some of us joined police at a very young age. My age mates are still in the police. I know that there are many retired police officers who have experiences and should be used by the government. They can hire them on contract basis.
What’s your reaction about the Chibok abducted girls?
The abduction of those girls is political arrangement! During political campaign in 2011, some political opponents said they would make the country ungovernable and immediately they said this, Boko Haram surfaced. Today, they’re terrorising the country based on what they said. Some of us believe that it’s an arrangement. If it’s not an arrangement, how do you explain the fact that what the politicians threatened, is now happening? It means they know that Boko Haram existed even then.
Do you believe that Boko Haram is waging a war against Christians?
I don’t believe that Boko Haram is waging a war against Christians anymore. You can see now that they attack churches and mosques, in fact everybody! Generally, they just want to destabilise the country.
Do you see Nigeria breaking as the solution to the insurgency in the country?
For the country to break up is not the solution to the present problem. We’ve come a long way. 100 years! There’re people who have properties in different parts of the country and you’re talking about us breaking up. So many other people have intermarried and are still intermarrying.
What we should do, is for our leaders to meet these Boko Haram members and dialogue with them. This perhaps will help in checking the Boko Haram problem. Would you say that Nigeria is at war presently? Just looking at the security situation in the country, shows that Nigeria is at war! Boko Haram members are armed to the teeth with all sort of sophisticated weapons and magazines wrapped around them.
They attack with seven, nine and 10 vehicles. Look at the numbers of people they had killed so far. Such a number might not even be killed in a war with another country. Yes, we’re at war! We’ve fought civil war in this country and we know when enemy forces attacked. But this war is without notification. People would be sleeping and they would go there and burn down the homes, with the occupants inside. Both Christians and Muslims are affected.
As ex-policeman, how do you feel seeing soldiers at the forefront of the fight against Boko Haram, when it was policemen before?
You heard what I said. This is war! Who are those that are supposed to fight war? It’s the soldiers! What we’ve heard so far, is that most of the key leaders in Boko Haram are not Nigerians, but people from other countries. We heard they’re from Niger Republic and Mali, so police can’t fight this war! We’re in war! Police are trained for counter-terrorism, while military are trained to enforce national security and international aggression.
What’s the way out of the raging storm in the country?
The way forward, is for all the leaders in the northern states; the political and eminent leaders and all those involved in this Boko Haram war, to come together, dialogue and find a solution to this menace with the government. With dialogue, the issue of Boko Haram will cease!
Do you think the confab will be able to take care of the issue of Boko Haram?
The convener of the confab had good intention, but the members of the confab are creating problems in that place! I don’t think they are working towards the idea and ideals which the convener earlier planned. The convener of the confab knew what he planned and wanted. But the argument going on in the subcommittees shows that they’re not serious. I don’t think they’re going to achieve anything good there for Nigerians.
Would you then describe the confab as a waste of money?
It’s a waste of money and time! Let me however not conclude yet, since I don’t know what they’ll write in their reports. But from the debates we’ve been seeing on television and in the National Dallies, they don’t have anything good to offer Nigerians.
Some people have argued that the insurgency will stop once President Jonathan halts his ‘second or third term’ shot at the presidency seat. What do you say to that?
Merely judging from what is going on in the country, you’ll see that would be the solution. But you can’t force Jonathan to stop his bid for the seat of presidency. He should be allowed, just like any other citizen of Nigeria to contest for any position. This matter had been dragged to the court, and a court says he was qualified to contest. The constitution allows him to contest. He had only enjoyed his first term.
The other term they’re talking about, is not his term. He spent two years for the late President Yardua, so people shouldn’t count it for him. He’s not God and didn’t say Yardua should die! He didn’t pray for it and since it happened, it became his luck. They should allow him to go for his second term. If he’s not allowed to go for second term, there might be problem.
Another group will come up, to begin to foment trouble, making the country also ungovernable for any other person or president. They’ll say: ‘when our brother was in government, you people didn’t give him peace and chance to rule.’ I foresee such happening. Boko Haram doesn’t want any other ethnic person to rule Nigeria, so how can they too rule in peace?
Are you insinuating that Niger Delta people will not give peace a chance, since ‘their brother,’ President Jonathan, was not given such a chance?
Exactly! They too would also cause trouble. Since Jonathan came on board, there has been stability in the production of crude oil. There has also been increase in the production of crude oil, from the Niger Delta region. He may have done more, if he had been allowed.
Do you think CCTV will help in the fight against terrorism in the country?
It has been done in other parts of the world and its working. They should implement it in Nigeria. But I still insist on dialogue being the solution to Boko Haram insurgency. Boko Haram knows why they’re terrorising Nigeria and Nigerians. They have an agenda.
Or how would you explain the coming of Boko Haram at this time, when Nigeria is trying to sustain peace in its nascent democracy? They’re destabilising us by bombing everywhere and its means that the information, unwittingly given out by the politician who threatened that the country would be governable has element of truth.
Why did you retire from police and choose to go into politics?
It’s because of the situation in the country. As an experienced person, I know I have all it takes to manage security and politics together.
Why did you choose PDP of all parties?
I joined PDP because it’s nationally accepted, no matter the critics and criticism. I believe in the party’s ideology. Check out all political parties in Nigeria, you’d find that PDP is the only political party that’s not biased in picking national leaders. I’m from Cross River, Obudu Local Government and I declared for PDP in the state. My ward is Otugwang central.
Is your governor Liyel Imoke performing well?
My governor is doing well and hardworking. There’s peace there. He’s up and doing, considering that Cross River is given small budget. We have financial problems in Cross River State. We have problem of the 76 oil wells given to Akwa Ibom, it’s affecting the economy of the state.
The Bakassi issue that was ceded to Cameroun is also affecting the state. The governor is doing his best with the small resources he has. If you get to Cross River, you’ll know the governor is working. Check out Lagos State, where they have billions of naira, can’t you see that in ordinary Ejigbo Local Government, nothing is working there? At Cross River, in every local government, the roads are tarred.
Who’s planning to take over as the new governor in the state?
I heard that it’s zoned to the northern Cross River and for equity and peace to reign, and for us to live as sisters and brothers, let them zone it to the north as agreed. That’s what’s agreed by the hierarchy of the party. It has gone to Cross River South and central before.
What your suggestions for Nigerians?
They should learn to live in peace and love another. We should behave like Americans. They’re proud and never discriminate! No matter our ethnic group, we’re one Nigerians! We should not discriminate in who will rule or not. It’s a bad concept! Another thing is that Nigeria government doesn’t know how to make use of retired officers.
If a man retires at 50, what does he do with the rest of his life and with his experience and we’re talking about Boko Haram? Such officers are still very young and can contribute to the security of this country.
They’re trained specialist and know what to do. When an officer is retired at a young age, the brain and experiences are wasting! In USA, you work as a police officer until you’re 70 or 80 years, but in Nigeria, 55 years is all.
A 55-year-old person is still a very young one. Some of us joined police at a very young age. My age mates are still in the police. I know that there are many retired police officers who have experiences and should be used by the government. They can hire them on contract basis.
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