Otunba Adejare Adegbenro is a security expert, who has proffered several solutions to tackling insecurity in the country. In this interview with journalists in Lagos he spoke on the security situation, as well as the forthcoming 2023 general elections. He says that the country needs a benevolent dictator as president. Excerpts:

Nigeria was recently ranked as the second country being ravaged by terrorism in the world. As a security expert, what is your take on that?

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 it? Definitely, we have major security challenges in Nigeria but to rank us second in the world I don’t think it’s correct.

The ranking or any other such negative ranking will have an adverse effect on the foreign direct investment of Nigeria or any other nation with the same ranking. 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.

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed recently stated that the worst was over as far as security challenges are concerned. Do you also share this view?

Thank God, you know who uttered the statement. But, how true it is, I don’t know. 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’ but 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 the pressmen 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 but rather 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 is the appropriate thing to say. How many of them have gone to do on the spot assessment despite being in possession of bulletproof 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, have the criminals not attacked again? We thank God that we are very prayerful people. If not for prayers, left to this set of political class, Nigeria would no longer be Nigeria, because Nigeria’s security strength is about 1.2 million to over 200 million people of the country. Yet, out of that small numerical strength, so many are being used by the Federal Government, agencies and the VIPs, and 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.

Looking at the amount of money being expended on security, would you say you are comfortable with the suspected amount being spent and the level of success being recorded?

Well, I think that is a question for the Commander in Chief 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 the 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 are 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.

For the sake of emphasis, President Muhammadu Buhari has done his part very well in the situation at hand and he deserves praises, commendations and several pats on the back for his consideration and responsive posture for the country and the generality of the citizenry.

Additionally, it gladdens my heart now 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. And 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.

Do you have any comments on 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 is time for decisive action to be taken against these terrorists and other criminal organizations giving the country hell.

As a Nigerian from formidable clans, if we may ask you, what qualities or traits do you think the next Nigerian leader needs 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.(Daily Independent)

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