Govt That Fails to Protect Citizens Has No Right to Exist, Says Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s security situation, declaring that any government unable to guarantee the safety of lives and property has lost its legitimacy.

Speaking during an interview on News Central, the elder statesman stressed that the protection of citizens remains the most fundamental responsibility of any administration, warning that failure in that regard undermines its right to govern.

“A government that cannot give security of life and property to its citizens has forfeited the right of existence,” he said.

Obasanjo lamented what he described as the growing normalisation of kidnapping and violent crimes across the country, noting that such incidents are increasingly being treated as routine occurrences.

He urged Nigerians not to accept the trend, recalling a time when movement across different parts of the country was largely unhindered. According to him, the current state of insecurity is the result of years of poor governance, unchecked proliferation of arms and the failure to address emerging threats early.

The former president linked parts of the crisis to developments beyond Nigeria’s borders, including the return of armed fighters following the fall of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, as well as the use of armed groups for political purposes within the country.

He also warned that the growing number of out-of-school children, estimated at about 20 million, poses a major security risk, describing them as vulnerable to recruitment by criminal and extremist networks if urgent action is not taken.

Beyond internal security, Obasanjo expressed concern over what he called Nigeria’s declining influence in global and regional affairs, saying the country no longer plays a leading role in key international decisions.

“Today, Nigeria is not at the table,” he said, attributing the development to weak leadership.

He was particularly critical of Nigeria’s handling of the political crisis in Niger under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States.

According to him, sanctions and other punitive measures imposed on Niger strained long-standing ties between both countries and weakened regional cooperation, contributing to tensions that later saw Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso withdraw from the bloc.

“We took 50 years to build it and virtually destroyed it overnight,” he said.

Obasanjo also voiced concern about Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, warning against the danger of a one-party system and what he described as the growing influence of a “selectorate” over the electorate in determining political outcomes.

Despite his criticisms, the former president maintained that Nigeria still has the capacity to recover, stressing that meaningful progress would depend on improved leadership, stronger institutions and a commitment to reform.