A former Governor of Plateau State and Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Fidelis Tapgun has advised the newest Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, to redesign the security architecture of the state aimed at halting the incessant killings that engulfed Mangu local government area in recent times.
Tapgun who is also a Member Board of Trustees of the PDP national body, said with his experience in government spanning over 3 decades, security architecture well positioned has helped in arresting crises before it escalates.
He described the security architecture as an organised system that takes its roots from the local government council where all relevant stakeholders are brought together to brainstorm and give relevant security tips to the Council Chairman who later transmit the same information to the State and Federal government for necessary actions.
Regretting the carnage that took place in Mangu LGA of Plateau State, he decried the ineffectiveness of security architecture which used to be the pillar of information of the government in years back.
According to him: “We still have a problem regarding security architecture in the country. Generally it has to be looked into again. I remembered some time ago during the time of the former Governor, Jonah Jang, after a round of crisis, I raised an issue concerning the security architecture.
‘”I grew up in the civil service system, and the way security was organised is not what it is today. I had served as the secretary to the local government for a long time in the 80s and I have also served as a sole administrator. I served in the cabinet office in the special service department which is the security department.
“The security architecture in the State that I know as at that time was that every LGA Chairman was the Chief Security Officer of his local government and in every local government, there is a security committee headed by the Chairman, which have all traditional rulers in the locality as Chairmen. The traditional rulers were all members of the council, the Ward heads, the Market traders association, the Special Security Service (SSS), attached to the LGA, Military, Police, and other paramilitary agencies attached to the LGA, taxi drivers association, Bar owners, etc, were all members of the local government Security Council.
“These security council meets every Monday and reports were received from all these selected heads of organisation and individuals. So if there is any problem anywhere, you will get it immediately.
“Every LGA in the State will do the same and all information will be collated and sent to the cabinet office, from where it will be sent to the State government and subsequently transmitted to the Secretary to the Federal government.
“From all the States the Federal government gets these reports through the office of the National Security Adviser.
“So if we have all this on ground there will hardly be a crisis. But the government has to spend money on getting this information. So I advise the incoming government to revisit the security architecture”, Tapgun said.
He dismissed the insinuation that Mangu LGA was attacked because of the Governor Mutfwang who hails from Mangu.
“Every life is sacrosanct and people should not play politics with human lives. To me I think it is Plateau people that have lost loved ones and it is Plateau people that were killed”, he said.