News2023: Nigeria Needs a Benevolent Dictator – Adegbenro

2023: Nigeria Needs a Benevolent Dictator – Adegbenro

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Otunbalaje Adejare Adegbenro is a security expert. In this interview with AYO ESAN, he spoke on the next general election as well as the security situation in the country. Excerpts:

How do you feel about the Nigeria being ranked as the second country most ravaged by terrorism in the world?

That cannot be true. No, I disagree with whoever conducted the survey. In fact, that ranking cannot be correct. Who did the ranking and what parameters did they use at arriving at same? Definitely we have major security challenges in Nigeria, but ranking us second in the world is not correct.

Glo

Any negative ranking will have an adverse effect on the economy of Nigeria or any other nation. It goes to show that the country is not safe. Thus, the economy can’t be stable, which in turn makes any investment in such a place highly risky.

But it has been reported that the worst is over…

(Cuts in)Well, you know who uttered the statement. But I don’t know how true it is. Remember he is the mouthpiece of the Federal Government. So he is only doing his job by disseminating such information. Like the Americans like to say ‘I guess the jury is still out on this.’ Definitely if it’s true, it is certainly cheery news.

However, the claim by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while briefing journalists on the security situation recently that the worst is over is funny and I disagree with him. In fact, this is not the right time to make such a bogus statement. Instead, it is the time to call on every stakeholder to work in tandem for a safe Nigeria.

We Nigerians make mockery of ourselves and it’s a big joke.

I get angry when I hear such claims. How is the worst over? As far as I am concerned, Nigeria still has a lot of security gaps against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements. If the minister is being truthful, the best thing he could say was, ‘we are working on it.’ That’s the appropriate thing to say. How many of them have gone to do on the spot assessment, despite being in possession of bullet proof cars?

It hurts me that the Nigeria I saw while growing up, is not the Nigeria I see now. When he said the worst is over, wasn’t there an attack barely 24 hours after the abduction of 32 passengers along Ondo State axis on Oluku/Owo Road? Have they been released? Even after his statement, haven’t the criminals attacked? We thank God that we are very prayerful people.

If not for prayer, left to this crop of politicians, Nigeria would no longer be Nigeria, because Nigeria’s security strength is about 1.2 million to over 200 million people inf the country. Yet, out of that small numerical strength, so many are being used by the Federal Government, agencies and the VIPs. If you deduct that, you will be amazed that quite a number of our security officers are doing what bodyguards should be doing ordinarily!

However, the Nigeria Army, the Air force, the Navy, the Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies have been making tremendous efforts, which must be commended. I therefore urge the government of the day to give them good welfare packages for their efforts to boost their morale. In addition, I also appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to support them because we are all Nigerians first while our tribes come second.

Are you comfortable with the sum of money reportedly spent on security and the level of success recorded so far?

Well, I think that is a question for the Commander in Chief (C-I-C) or the Service Chiefs to answer or the National Security Adviser (NSA) to disclose. To the average Nigerian it is baffling if not dumbfounding that such humongous amounts of money are being expended by the military with little success to show for same.

I give kudos to the President because he has done his best, but people are sabotaging him in his government.

Anything Nigeria needs, the President has approved it at the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He should ask questions and sack whoever is found wanting or not performing or who are corrupt because figures we are hearing is mind boggling! So, some people have to explain and those found culpable should be sent to jail. It is a pity that, in Nigeria, there are more corrupt people in government than the people in jail. We must change as we are all part of this and if we want a better Nigeria, it is better for all of us to change our ways.

However, it gladdens my heart to see the armed forces working together. I mean the Air Force and the Army. They seem to have found a synergy that has resulted in some significant successes lately. Therefore, I remain optimistic that we are winning the war as I know the men and women of the Nigerian armed forces have the capacity to deal with and crush these terrorists if they so decide.

How do you feel about the coming general election in 2023?

General elections or no general election, the issue of security challenges is a major threat to the life of the ordinary citizens of any country and the world at large. The issue, I believe has been treated with kids gloves for long enough to be of concern! It’s time for decisive action to be taken against these terrorists and other criminal organizations giving the country hell.

If we may ask you, what qualities do you think the next Nigerian leader should possess to move the country forward?

The answer to that question is simple. A benevolent dictator, if such a person exists. That is better and best bet for the country now.

About the Author

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AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.

Ayo Esan, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.

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