THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN THE RE BRANDING NIGERIA PROJECT.

THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN THE RE BRANDING NIGERIA PROJECT.

I wonder what the society will be like without the police command. Their roles are indispensable. Nigeria got a bad name the moment our police command started misbehaving. Then the control of the character build up of the citizens became very difficult. Their contributions became almost useless because they are the major key player in the issue of corruption in the country. These people (the police) who were entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding the sheep turned to wolves that now devour the sheep they are to keep. Their functions involve the enforcement of the laws of the state. But to the greatest dismay of the public whom they serve, they have disappointed the people by their unrepentant and nonchalant attitude towards the people and the state. Recounting their misconducts, they are incessantly found flouting the laws of the state which they are meant to protect in view of the belief that nobody will prosecute them. Is anyone above the law? People who are supposed to come to work on time no longer care about the time they come to work so long as they have a thousand and one reasons to be late in the name of the barbaric ‘African time’ People who are supposed to parade criminals that indulged in bribery without fear or favor are found giving and receiving bribes. They now endorsed bribery as part of our polity by the virtue of their actions and words. People who are supposed to arrest, charge to court and prosecute criminals for the sake of justice are now seen misinterpreting the terms of the laws for the sake of money. They deny government’s effort to combat crime. They deny government’s provision of sophisticated weapons with which to fight crime. They often flee when they see criminals at the scene of crimes like robbery etc. Anyway, the issue of police misconduct is not in vogue in this write up. What is in vogue right now is the issue of the ways to re brand their name in particular and that of the country in general. Our major concern is on the way forward.

In this project, the country has a lot to do with the police. This project is hopefully achievable if the police are chiefly involved. This is a fight. Our major aim is to ensure the removal of the issue of corruption from the annals of the country’s polity. If it means printing a new brand and color of uniform for them with a new name, let them be issued that so far they can change their attitudes. It is suggestible that they (the police) be more equipped with most sophisticated weapons to help them in crime fighting. They should be paid regularly their salaries, monetized benefits and entitlements so that they will always be well fed and sheltered too. This will boost their self confidence and self dependence so that they can face and arrest whatever caliber of person that flouts the laws in the society without influence. The ministry in charge of the police should form another set of police that will police the police. Yes, the police that will police the police. It has to be formed. They will be in charge of controlling the activities of the police in and outside the barracks. The principles of rule of law which the country uses support this. No one is above the law. The bad eggs among them have to be fished out and their activities checkmated. They have to be fished out, policed and prosecuted. Their postings and transfer has to be done without any form of influence. They should be posted out of their home towns to avoid influence from their people during the course of discharging their duties. They should be regularly promoted to ensure that they stop stopping motorists and the collection of chips or ‘egunje’ on the highways. A special police patrol team has to be formed for the proposed police’ police. They are to be trained in special criminology to prepare them for policing the police. Special training has to be given them also to help them know what is required of them as regards this fight.

Strongly one can affirm that if the police are given their right of place in this country starting with this project, they will perform more than expected. I believe in them.

THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN THE RE BRANDING NIGERIA PROJECT.

THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN THE RE BRANDING NIGERIA PROJECT.
The teachers are the main nation builders. They comprises of those who have received formal education and have chosen to dedicate their time and talent and of course their life to the course of imparting the knowledge they have obtained in the citizens of the country especially in a formal setting called a school. It may interest one to know that irrespective of their level of education or academic qualifications, they are highly respected in the society. They can even be referred to as the most important set of people in the world due to their ability to teach and lead the people. Teachers are leaders also. They include the kindergartens, primary, post primary (high school), tertiary (university lecturers) and teacher education teachers. They also include those in the seminary, theological institutes and defense colleges. Prior to their position in the society, they owe the society a great deal of responsibilities to perform especially a society such as ours (Nigeria). Undoubtedly, what any society knows today is what their teachers have taught them back in the days.
Before the re branding project could be achieved, teachers should not be neglected because they have a lot of roles to play for the success of the project. They should be given their right of place. The present honorable minister of information and communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who is the initiator of the project should liaise with the teachers at all levels through their amalgamated trade unions; ASUU, NUT, COPSHON etc to make this project a success. They can help sensitize the Nigeria populace on the ways to say no to corruption. It is suggestible though, that teachers has to bring out a suitable slogan which they can always as a matter of utmost importance, be writing on top of the chalkboard each time they want to give a lecture in their classrooms. They can write this slogan and help students recite it before and after each class. Sometimes they could make out some times like two minutes to talk to the students daily and regularly in their classrooms on the bad effects of corruption on our name and our economy in general. This will go a long way in catching the minds of the Nigerian children young before they are polluted. Teachers in primary and post primary schools can mobilize their pupils to form a mega anti corruption clubs/society where public lectures could be delivered at intervals stipulated by the teachers in a unanimous agreement with the pupils. Nigerian government can also map out an anti corruption date that will be specifically declared a national public holiday. On this day, activities like football matches could be played from to mark the event thence the message of anti corruption could be related to the spectators. Also public lectures in each state, local government areas and even at the federal level could be delivered by notable dignitaries. Anti corruption awards could be given in the same vein to support those who have given their times and talent in the fight. University lecturers in their own contribution can call for university public lectures where they will institute an anti corruption clubs/societies in collaboration with the students union government (SUG). These clubs can be formally launched and funded. The fund can be used in organizing anti corruption week activities. These activities could also be incorporated as part of the SUG week activities in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and monotechnics. Teachers have more to offer this country as long as the success of this project is concerned and therefore should not be underrated.
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