Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture to ensure safety of lives and property.
Obasanjo, who spoke on Friday at the 2020 edition of the Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture organised by Abeokuta Club, said security as being run currently in Nigeria does not give anybody hope.
“Federal security architecture as organised and operated by the present government cannot give any individual or group hope, let alone assurance of security within Nigeria,” the former president said.
Obasanjo at the event with the theme “COVID-19 and the Nigeria security issues: The way forward” painted a picture of the The Nigerian security saying that that the destiny of the country is in the hands of every Nigerian dug deep to chart a new course for socioeconomic developments.
According to him, “Our destiny is in our own hands. In reform and restructuring, security architecture, structure and arrangement must devolve more security responsibility on the community, local and state authorities.
“Unfortunately, I have recently observed from some writers on the security situation in the North, the feeling or attitude of ‘it serves them right’. We must not gloat at the difficulties or misfortune of others, rather we must emphathise.
“Wherever there is insecurity in Nigeria, it must be of concern to all of us. It should not be the attitude of ‘am alright Jack’ or ‘it serves them right’. I believe it should be ‘we are all in one bad boat and we must put all hands on deck to fix it’. Maybe now that we are all feeling the pinch, the collective fixing will be understood and be easy to accomplish”.
