Obasanjo: Today’s Insecurity More Severe Than During My Administration

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has voiced serious concern about the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, calling for immediate action to address the issue.

Obasanjo made these comments on Sunday, October 20, during a visit to Bauchi State, where he inaugurated several road projects initiated by Governor Bala Mohammed.

Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman-Adamu, Obasanjo pointed out that Nigeria’s current security challenges are significantly more severe than those faced during his presidency.

He stressed the importance of community policing as a crucial solution to combat the rising crime rates.

“The best form of security is community policing because everyone knows his/her neighbours within the community. With that, it is very easy to identify the bad eggs,” Obasanjo said, stressing the importance of local knowledge in identifying and addressing security threats.

The former president expressed concern about how insecurity has taken hold in various parts of the nation and urged that prompt measures be implemented to address the issue.

“The situation of insecurity in Nigeria today is so bad, unlike during our terms in office when we prioritised the security of lives and properties across the country. We need to do something urgently about this,” he added.

Obasanjo also urged traditional rulers to actively promote community policing within their areas to help curb rising crime.

He emphasized the significance of collaboration, unity, and collective responsibility in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, drawing on his experiences during his time in office.

“During our service to the nation, we did everything collectively, our decisions were taken together to have a uniform focus. My brother, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, is seated here, and he will bear me witness. Whatever we achieved then was a collective effort.”

He concluded by emphasizing that Nigeria can regain its stability and security through unity and collective action.

“We need peace, unity, and collective support in this country if we must move forward. Things can be right and good again in the country, all we need to do is to get united and do things collectively,” Obasanjo stated.