By Jude Michael
Much as the Gubernatorial Aspirant of Labour Party for the forthcoming election in Anambra State, Mr John Nwosu, sees the recently enacted Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025, as heading in the right direction, he has nevertheless expressed fears that it can be open to abuse, unless faithfully implemented.
Reacting to the law in his X handle, formerly known as Twitter, Nwosu said the development boggled the mind that in passing the law, the Anambra State Government failed to acknowledge and accept its primary constitutional responsibility, which, he said, was to protect Anambra State citizens and residents. He described such an oversight as telling, noting that it unfurled the prevailing didactic leadership mindset of the incumbent administration of Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
‘In governance, language matters. There is a vast difference between the State recognising the critical need and acknowledging its constitutional role; or acting in keeping with its constitutional responsibility.
‘As the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), states in Section 14 (2), “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
‘The implicit and explicit lack of reference or acknowledgement of government’s functions in this regard, and coupled with the fact that most tasks under the law devolves on the local governments, traditional rulers, municipalities, communities and private security companies, is rather troubling. Talk of passing the buck!
‘The greater danger lies in functions that may be arrogated to private security companies and relevant government agencies to enhance security operations, even with the guardrail checks provided,’ he said.
Nwosu stated that the prevailing crisis of wanton brutality and dehumanization being meted out by private companies acting as agents of the state government in the tax collection and waste management sectors, should have informed the need for better clarity in the definition of the role of armed private security companies.
‘Once again, and presumably with the best of intentions, the Soludo Administration continues to exhibit its cluelessness in matters of governance. We hope that the implementation of this law will not overreach, thus further compounding a deeply troubling security situation in the state.
‘Finally, the Nigeria Constitution is the Supreme Law. Issues on which it has made pronouncements must be respected, both in the letter and spirit by the states,’ he stated.
