Obasanjo: Nigeria's Government Fails to Ensure Security

In an interview with Soni Irabor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed strong criticism of the Nigerian government's inability to guarantee the safety of its citizens, stating that a government that cannot secure its people should not exist. He assessed Nigeria's deteriorating security situation, attributing it to poor leadership and a lack of effective governance.

Obasanjo traced the roots of the current insecurity to the aftermath of the civil war, noting the proliferation of arms and the return of mercenaries following the fall of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. He warned that the estimated 20 million out-of-school children pose a long-term security risk, potentially becoming recruits for extremist groups.

Obasanjo also criticized the Tinubu administration's handling of relations with Niger, particularly following a recent coup, and emphasized the need for clarity in Nigeria's strategic engagement with its neighbors. He expressed pessimism about Nigeria's current trajectory, highlighting a decline in democratic values and accountability.