Current insecurity worse than during my government – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, urging swift action to address the situation. 

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

While speaking at the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman-Adamu, Obasanjo highlighted that Nigeria’s current security challenges are far worse than during his tenure as president. He emphasized the need for community policing as a vital solution to tackling 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 over how insecurity has gripped parts of the nation and urged that immediate steps be taken to address it. “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 called on traditional rulers to take an active role in promoting community policing within their jurisdictions to curb rising crime. He stressed the importance of collaboration, unity, and collective responsibility in dealing with Nigeria’s security challenges, reflecting on 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 could regain its stability and security with 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 noted.