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| Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Yakubu Dogara(Middle), Minister of Defence, Brig Gen. Mansur Muhammad Dan- Ali (2nd right), National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongunu (left), Director,Defence Intelligence Agency, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Saliu Usman(right) at the Annual Conference for Defence Attaches,in Abuja on Monday 13th November, 2017 Photo: Speaker’s Media Office |
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has urged Nigerian security forces to focus on intelligence gathering and timely deployment of information as a means of combating terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes in the country in order to protect Nigeria's democracy.
He gave the charge while speaking at the Annual Conference for Nigerian Defence Attaches organised by the Chief of Defence Intelligence in Abuja.
Dogara stressed that maintenance of law and order is the most important function in any society, noting that democracy thrives only when lives are secure.
"But I believe that if we succeed in gathering effective and reliable intelligence that can be interpreted, we will always be ahead of the terrorists, of the kidnappers, and of all those who are threatening our peaceful coexistence. The work you do perhaps is the most important work that can be done in a democracy."
"I have always maintained that terrorism is a global problem, and therefore, no single nation, no one nation should be left alone to deal with it. And I believe that the best way we can go about it is what we are doing here; in conferences like this, building networks, effective networks, engaging with ourselves, sharing experience, that is the only way we can be ahead."
He also commended the military for upholding law and order in times of crisis saying, "the work you do perhaps is the most important work that can be done in a democracy."
Speaking further, Dogara said, "The most important thing in Nigeria right now, even though we are practicing democracy, is not the institution of the presidency, it is not the legislature, it is not even the judiciary but it is law and order and national security in the sense that when there is no peace and order, there can't be a nation and we must have Nigeria first before we can talk about a Nigerian president, a Nigerian legislature and even the judiciary.
"I want to commend the military for putting together this function and to say that being aware of our role as the first institution of our democracy, we will do everything within the confines of our powers and within available national resources, to see that we appropriate more for the peace, order and good governance of this country, because any nation which fails to invest in security will diminish. It has happened, examples are replete, so we will not fail to invest in security.
"I want to, on behalf of members of the National Assembly and indeed, Nigerians, thank the military for the work you are doing.
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