Tuesday,
October 30, 2012
We
acknowledge the fact that as a human institution, the national security
apparatus is not immune to manipulation. But why should we single out the
President when there are various mechanisms of control? The security apparatus
can be manipulated by not only the President but their own commanders as well.
The
real issue to fear is any friction between the President and upper echelons of
the security services, especially in a situation where any of them may flagrantly
disobey the President’s order. It happens in other countries and causes much
trouble.
In our case, we haven’t had anything of the sort. It doesn’t mean that
it can’t happen, but it hasn’t happened so far nor is there any inkling to
alert us to its happening soon or later.
There
has been a very cordial relationship between our Presidents and the high
command of the security services. As to when that cordiality will degenerate
into bad blood to warrant the President’s exercise of his powers to manipulate
the security apparatus, I cannot tell. I won’t even bother my head over it
because there is no need for this kind of dangerous game of speculation.
In
our case, we are conversant with how the security apparatus functions in
diverse ways, especially during a military intervention in national politics to
the extent that dictatorial tendencies on the part of the Head of State could
spell the doom of opponents or just anybody caught in the crossfire of military
dictatorship and dissension.
All
the military interventions in our national politics demonstrated such
waywardness in the abuse of the instruments of violence (both human and
material) to perpetrate heinous acts that served only the perpetrators’
interests. But they paid a heavy price for it.
The
other issue is about the Electoral Commission’s Electoral Task Force. Here too,
Dr. Percy seems not to get it right. Commenting on the brouhaha over who heads
the special election security task force, he also said “it is completely false
that anyone appointed from outside his or her political responsibilities to
head the special election security task force will bring transparency in the
elections.”
What
exactly is the definition of “transparency” that informs Dr. Percy’s
viewpoints? I am confounded at this point.
Empowering
the EC to manage the electoral process is good but it can’t perform its onerous
functions alone. That is why the suggestion by William Dowokpor of the
Progressive People’s Party “that an Electoral Commission Officer heading the
special election security task force—be it at the constituency, the region or
national level—will be the most appropriate situation” is also questionable.
In
the same vein his elaboration that “in the election period, the EC has the
total control over what happens and its officers will provide a more neutral
way of handling miscreants who foment trouble during the election” is
intriguing.
In
all that happens in the electoral process, there is need for conscientiousness
and patriotism to ensure that the process is not skewed to favour any of the
contestants. But we must not implement measures that will cause more trouble
than we can contain. The President will continue to be the head of national
security and it is our responsibility to keep him on his mettle and ensure that
all loopholes are plugged to curtail any abuse of incumbency.
That
is why civil society groupings need to be non-partisan and conscionable enough
to promote public education and awareness creation to facilitate the electoral
process. What we currently have is deplorable. There is none of the so-called
civil society groupings that isn’t politically aligned. How can such organizations
command public respect and trust to help streamline the electoral process?
In
the end, let’s leave security matters to security experts and those
constitutionally mandated to handle affairs. We should play our watchdog roles
and offer constructive criticisms to support them. Nothing of the sort
prescribed by Dr. Percy and Dowokpor will solve any perceived problem. Let’s
not add more to the package to hamstring ourselves. The President will remain
head of national security at all times.
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