The chairman of the Committee on National Security at the ongoing national conference and former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, Tuesday disclosed why he was removed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) by the then Head of State, late Gen. Sani Abacha.
According to him, the advice he gave late Abacha to release the duo of Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and late Musa Yar’Adua and four other political detainees did not go down well with him.
He spoke at the maiden sitting of the committee on national security.
Alhaji Jimeta, said he gave the advice in the interest of the country. He said, “As the IGP then, I advised the former President Sanni Abacha to release the high profile political detainees like Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen Musa YaAdua and other four but the former president refused to do so and instead removed me, to the extent that they were looking for my head”.
On the present constitution, he said only sections that are not in tune with the reality of the present day should be amended, but cautioned that the conference must stay within its terms of reference.
He spoke further, “Am a different Nigerian. I don’t want any Nigeria to be slave. I decided to take up the appointment in order to change situation for the people.
“I am not enjoying this conference, am sick yet am here but to help Nigeria, to help the President to salvage the country.
“The country is sick otherwise how could people organised themselves and killed innocent students? How could people gathered together and robbed? How could people gathered together and vandalised pipelines? It means the central system is sick and that is national security”.
On the importance of security, Alhaji Jimeta said, “It remains the essence or the raison d’être for people coming together to form a governments. Without it, no state can carry out the constitutional responsibilities to its citizens-protection of life, enjoyment of peace and the pursuit of the daily activities that bring dignity to man”.
“Having regard to the vast or formidable array of experience, knowledge, exposure, maturity and impressive credentials, you represent collectively, it is superfluous for me to emphasize the great significance of your membership and the heavy burden it places on us”.
The committee adopted a work plans and also set up three sub-committees which include: committee on crisis management bodies, committee on law and order infrastructure and the committee on defence infrastructure.
According to him, the purpose of the working paper was to provide the basis upon which and around which committee members will attempt to organize their thoughts and interventions in fulfilment of their mandate.
“It identifies issues pertinent to national security by firstly suggesting a broad definition of national security and isolating its key elements, secondly, it examines the characteristics of the Nigerian security situation with special emphasis on current threats to National Security”, the chairman said.