Hezbollah arms dealers are friends of top security officers-Tsav

He is one policeman who has remained vocal since after leaving the Nigerian Police Force as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.

His colleagues who were retired along with him or who picked their retirement letters before him have gone into oblivion of the Nigeria police history of sort.

They went into coma of silence because their track records in their police offices are still oozing and reeking corruption; with attendant dirty jobs while in the force.  They cannot speak out, tackle the corruption in their constituency; Police force or battle the government in power on illegality in the land because their files are dotted with corruption queries. But Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, the former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State has remained what he is- quintessential Cop. A civil liberty campaigner, social crusader, anti-corruption fighter and a social justice advocate. Several governments and their security agencies have tried to link him with one corruption or the other while in the force but all looks that he has no skeleton in his cupboard. And so, when he speaks, he speaks without fear or favour concerning any government of the day. In this telephone interview with Emeka Ibemere, the ex-cop condemned the ineffectiveness of the Federal Government in tackling the scourge of insecurity, corruption and high rising poverty in the land. He also bares his mind on the proliferation of arms by government alleged arms contractors and recommends that they should be investigated. He also spoke on other issues. Excerpt   

On Mustapha’s Release?

It confirms the supremacy of God over all things. I commend the Appeal Court judges for their courage, frankness and thoroughness in their judgement. No grave is enough to bury the truth. I am happy that Major Al-Mustapha is at last discharged and acquitted. He will now know who his true friends are and what life is all about because in times of prosperity, we have many friends but in times of adversity, they push them through the window.

On River’s crises?

It is a rape of democracy in Rivers State. While most Nigerians point fingers at the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and he has come out to deny his involvement and complicity in the matter, like most Nigerians, I’m not impressed with Jonathan’s denial. Is he not aware that his wife ‘Her Imperial Majesty’ Patience Jonathan , Permanent Secretary, once forcefully snatched a microphone from Governor Amaechi in a public function in Port Harcourt and castigated him? Is he not aware that at a wedding ceremony in Port-Harcourt, her majesty castigated the governor publicly? Is he not aware that she attended meeting with the five anti-Amaechi legislators? Did Jonathan not receive intelligence report on the frosty relationship between the Governor and the Commissioner of Police, Mbu?

As General-Commander was he not aware of the withdrawal of Governor’s security. What did he do about these? He did nothing. Is he so incompetent?

The crisis in River’s Stat House of Assembly is a serious threat to democracy, and security of this country. Unfortunately, the master-mind to this rubbish seems to be enjoying the show of shame and thuggrey. The police w3ho should be neutral and unbiased have relegated fair-play and allowed themselves to be used by the president and his wife. Even a child knows that what is happening in Rivers State is caused by the presidency, the first lady and the CP of Rivers State. These people due to inordinate ambition and desperation for power want plunge the country into crises. Ironically, none of them fought the civil war as to appreciate the sacrifice and risks our soldiers faced and made to keep Nigeria one. Enough of this madness!

Ombatse Alakyo Commission?

I Commend Governor Al-Makuro of Nassarawa State for his wisdom and thoughtfulness in setting up  Ombatse/Alakyo Commission of Inquiry into the mass killing of some security agents in Alakyo by Ombatse cultists. It is necessary that this sad and atrocious incident be thoroughly investigated into and all persons found involved in the sad incident either by commission or omission be brought to justice no matter their position, status in society. To this end, i wish to appeal to members of the commission to have the fear of God and embrace truth, courage and honesty in their work. They should realise that their assignment though confined to a state, is national and humanitarian. They should therefore carry on with open mind without bias or ill-will, without malice or prejudice and without the desire to defend any one or organisation. Finally, we expect that the government will act on the panel’s report and recommendation.

On CAN and Boko Haram?

The President said the insurgence killed more Muslims than Christians. I hope this not politics considering what Ayo Oristejeafor led Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) has been saying to his listeners. However, no matter how deep the grave may be, it cannot ever swallow the truth. We are glad the truth is coming out from the presidency. Before now, the people whose main objective is to use religion to cause disharmony and destabilize the country have been accusing Muslim leaders of being responsible for Boko Haram and the insurgency which were hitherto ghosts. I appeal to the President Jonathan to go a step further to identify the sponsors of these ghosts with a view to bringing them to justice no matter what or who they are. To deal with the issue of insecurity in the country, we need to approach it with open and unbiased mind devoid of politics and religion to pursue the truth no matter who is involved.

On Ribadu FG altercation?

 Dr Ruben Abati amuses one as the defender of indefensible by several contradicting himself in order to keep his job. If Nuhu Ribadu said ‘Nigeria is sinking’, we expect the FG to say Nigeria is not sinking and to give reasons to convince Nigerians that Nigeria is not sinking rather than leaving the substance to pursue the shadow by resorting to blackmail. If Ribadu is not hypocritical as alleged by Abati, is Nigeria truly not sinking? Is there no endemic corruption, insecurity, injustice, poor medical services, bad roads, dilapidated educational system, unemployment, disregard for the rule of law, culture of impunity, etc in Nigeria? Dr Abati is a greater hypocrite. The Abati I used to know and admire at Rutam House is different from Abati now in Aso-Rock House. ‘Man must chop’ but lies negate the ethics of journalism.

On 2015 Jonathan’s campaign?

Chief Anthony Anenih and the ijaw/orohbo leader, Chief Edwin Clark have kick started the campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second/ third term or tenure. Yes!, this may be in line with the provision of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but the President is clueless and lacks ideas. Infact, he has run out of ideas. He has performed very low to deserve another term. His tenure witnessed more deaths and flow of blood next to the civil-war era. We saw digitalized corruption, compound insecurity, dilapidated infrastructure, poor medical services, low power supply. The organs responsible for the fight against corruption have been weakened and frustrated. Windows and doors are opened for corruption to strive in the name of struggle for re-election. Can we survive this?
Niger Delta elders led by Chief Edwin Clark, who are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term, are saying so for parochial interests.

Some are beating the drums of war that if the President is not re-elected, Nigeria will go up in flames as though they alone voted for him in 2011 and as if they introduced the Doctrine of Necessity. Elders like Chief E.K Clark have allowed their parochial desires override national interests. Those who are encouraging violence do not know that they will be consumed by such violence. Where was Chief Clark

in 2011? I urge our politicians to learn from history and the Arab Spring. The nation and its people should come first. I commend the five governors for their foresight and patriotism by visiting former Heads of State and consulting with them on the state of the nation. The situation in River State is a real threat to democracy. Unfortunately the so called leaders of Niger Delta areas are silent and seem to be enjoying the show of shame stirred by opportunists.

On Hezbollah arms importation into the country?

How did such deadly weapons get into Nigeria? Is it due to our porous borders, corruption, and ineffectiveness of our law enforcement agencies or connivances to destabilize the country? I congratulate the security agencies for their wonderful job and urge them to conduct discreet investigation which should cover the whole country. The scope of the investigation should not be restricted to Hezbollah and Boko Haram but also to all arms contractors for the military and Para-military establishments including Niger-Delta militants based on the Asari-Dokubo threats. Some Lebanese have operated in this country as though they are above the law. All senior military and Para-military officers are their friends. It’s being alleged that they dominate contract for the supply of the armaments and weapons for our security organisations. They could use defence contracts to smuggle in such weapons. This needs to be investigated.

On emergency rule in some Northern States

The state of insecurity in the country, in the north especially, has worsened in recent years. And I think the declaration of emergency rule in some parts of the north, as far as I am concerned, is mere formalities because we have been in a state of emergency long before President Jonathan announced emergency rule in those states; because the military had powers to demolish people’s houses, to arrest and detain people at will, to shoot and kill.

And before the declaration of emergency rule, we had many people in custody, including women and children. Those involved in insurgency and others not involved were all detained. We also had people whose houses were demolished because they housed people who were suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents.

The problem we have is that the people called Boko Haram do not wear uniforms; they wear plain clothes, and have no mark on them. So, it is very hard to identify who these Boko Haram people are except if they are caught in the act of terrorism, or if they are caught with arms and ammunition or caught detonating bombs or caught with arms in their possession. That is when one can rightly say they are members of Boko Haram.

When the thing started, people who have long beard were arrested; even shoe shiners were not left out. So, the situation was very bad and I blame it on all northern politicians because people have regarded politics as a means of subsistence not a means of helping the people to grow, or helping the country to develop. But as a means of subsistence, it is a do or die affair. This has destroyed the northern economy completely; social life was also destroyed, and the worst thing is this religious issue.

Because God Almighty in His wisdom, established religion; if He had wanted that all of us should believe in one religion, He should have done that. If He had wanted us to be Christians, we should have been Christians, same as Muslims or even unbelievers and nothing would have happened. But God gave the freedom to choose whatever religion we want; He gave us books, Holy Bible and the Koran to read and understand His teachings, but these books are often misinterpreted because people want wealth. People pursue wealth as though we are going to live forever.

And what is fuelling the whole thing is greed. Our leaders are very greedy and the young men who should be planning about their future have no jobs; they are suffering and are being used as fuel to cause trouble in this country. The economy is biting on everybody. Our politicians are not helping matters; they are in politics just to enrich themselves and not to help this country develop.