Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said any government that cannot protect lives and property has no reason to remain in power.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the former Nigerian leader blamed the country’s current struggles on poor leadership, saying Nigeria has lost its place in global affairs and is no longer part of key international discussions.
He also faulted how the present administration has handled regional matters, especially within the Economic Community of West African States.
Speaking during an interview on News Central’s Soni Irabor Live over the weekend, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s weak influence outside its borders shows a deeper problem in leadership.
He added that citizens should not accept crimes like kidnapping as normal, recalling a time when people could travel freely across the country without fear.
He said the duty of any government is to ensure safety, adding that failure in this area means such leadership has lost its right to exist.
According to him, Nigeria’s security crisis can be traced back to the period after the civil war, when weapons were not properly controlled, and the situation has worsened due to bad governance over the years.
Obasanjo also linked the crisis to both local and foreign factors. He mentioned the return of fighters after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, as well as the use of armed groups for political purposes within Nigeria.
He warned that the large number of out-of-school children, put at about 20 million, could create more problems in the future, as they may be drawn into crime or extremist activities.
The former president expressed doubt about the country’s direction, saying he sees no clear progress under the current leadership.
He added that the weakening of democratic processes has reduced accountability, noting that elections are no longer fully driven by the people.
Obasanjo also criticized President Bola Tinubu over how his government handled the situation in Niger Republic after the recent coup.
He said Nigeria’s response, including closing borders, cutting electricity supply and placing financial limits, damaged long-standing ties between both countries.
He said: “And the first responsibility of any government, no matter how that government comes into being, is the security of life and property. A government that cannot give security of life and property to its citizens has forfeited the right of existence.”