DEAR Readers, we will continue with the paper I delivered at the 2019 Professional Managers’ Forum/Award Night of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Port-Harcourt Chapter on Friday 22nd November 2019 at Atrium Event Centre, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation and Development Issues in the Niger-Delta: The Managers’ Perspective.
4. REASONS FOR SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS PROLIFERATION.
The under listed types of small arms and light weapons proliferators give direct and clear reasons for small arms and light weapons proliferation:
1. The Alienated- Those that have lost hope in the country and believe the only way to live is to take up or sell arms against the state.
2. The Sponsored – Those that are sponsored into crime for reasons best known to the sponsors; may be to achieve political or religious advantage.
3. The Bewitched – Those that are doing what they are doing because they have been indoctrinated, hypnotized or bewitched to destroy our country.
4. The Disappointed – Those that are battered by the economic situation in the country and are retaliating by gun running or the use of small arms to cause maximum destruction. Some of them actually went to school and have certificates and skills to unleash on any job but alas there is no work and no tradermoni.
5. The Spoofed- Those that are led, hoaxed and deceived by peer influence to take to crime.
6. The Agitators- Those fighting legitimate causes illegally. Some of them feel the resources of the country are not evenly distributed and the only way to get the government attention to remedy the situation is to take to violence and small arms. Does this sound familiar?
7. The Negative Risk Takers – Those that feel life is all about taking risks to excel. They see the arms trade as a risky but sure route to success.
8. The Flappers – These want to live large, achieve quick success fixes and hate the ‘slow and steady’ route to fame, fortune and their share of the national cake. They therefore resort to crime for fast success.
9. The Used and Dumped – These persons are hurt because they believe they have been used and dumped. They got into crime to help a godfather or area father have a political or business win but after the victory, they were dumped and forgotten. They therefore take to crime out of vengeance and a desire to recoup ‘lost wages’
10. The Copycats – These persons saw how other criminals were rewarded and celebrated, they were then motivated to go into crime, enjoy the lime light and make a neat, untaxed income.
11. The Professionals Criminals – These persons have deliberately chosen arms and weapons proliferation as a profession and a way of life. We are professional managers and they are professional criminals.
5. THE WAY OUT
Ladies and Gentlemen, the effects of this menace are already on us in more ways than one; we can no longer pretend that all is well. The whole environment is tense. The security forces are trying their best, especially with their fancifully coded military operations like “Operation Crocodile Smile” and ‘Operation Python Dance”. Even if the two reptiles did what the code names suggested, how much blood would have been shed? How many women would have been husband-less and son –less? Still, because the situation has not abated even with all the different types and forms of dance and smile, we would suggest additional solutions from a different angle, the professional management prism.
To be continued next week.
Sunday Ade Bello is a multi-talented and an analytically inspired management trainer, writer and examiner. He is the CEO of WorkLife Training Professionals, Lagos.
