Elder statesman and legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola has declared that Nigerians must fear and respect the Police the way they regard the military, in order to guarantee order and security in the country.
Alternatively, he said Nigeria’s laws should be amended so that the military would be saddled with the enforcement of law and order in the country.
Babalola spoke on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, at the 4th edition of the Aare Afe Babalola Distinguished Personality Lecture Series, entitled, ‘Insecurity, leadership and peace building in Nigeria: Dynamics and challenges’.
The event took place at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
“For me, the military today, is the most disciplined institution in this country. The problem we have today in Nigeria is nothing other than lack of discipline. And this is right from leadership, to the followership.
“How can there be security, leadership and peace when there is no order?,” he queried.
Continuing, he said, “There is even a Biblical saying to wit, that order is the first law in heaven. As a person, I appreciate, and also enforce it.
“If an offender sees a policeman on an Okada, he does not accord any of them any iota of respect.
“However, when a man sees a soldier, he quickly comports himself. That is the quantum of respect often accorded the military.
“The time has therefore come for all of us to unite, ensure order, because orderliness and and discipline in our society is the only and the surest way forward.”
Babalola, who commended the type of uncommon discipline in the military, said he was surprised in 2016, when he was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Letters, (D. Lit) by the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He noted that the hall where the event held was not only perfectly quiet, but also nobody attempted to leave his or her seat throughout the duration.
“To me, that was the peak of orderliness and discipline. Before that day, I had believed that my university was the epitome of order, orderliness and discipline, such that some are even saying ABUAD is more of a military institution.
“But with what I saw that day at NDA, I gave, and still give kudos for the military for its discipline,” Babalola added.
Earlier in his lecture, the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major Gen. John Ochai, said the Nigerian military is doing its possible best to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
But he remarked that citizens should not expect 100 percent scorecard in that regard.
