Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned that any government that cannot guarantee the security of lives and property has effectively lost its right to exist, delivering a strong critique of Nigeria’s current leadership and worsening insecurity.
Speaking during an interview on Soni Irabor Live, Obasanjo blamed Nigeria’s challenges on poor leadership, saying the country has lost its influence in global affairs and weakened its standing within Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He expressed concern over rising insecurity, noting that kidnapping has become normalised and warning Nigerians against accepting it as a way of life. He linked the crisis to poor governance, arms proliferation after the civil war, returning mercenaries, and political misuse of armed groups.
Obasanjo also cautioned that millions of out-of-school children could become a future security threat if not addressed.
On foreign policy, he criticised Nigeria’s handling of the Niger Republic crisis, arguing that sanctions and border closures damaged long-standing ties and weakened regional cooperation.
The former president further dismissed the relevance of the National Council of State, described government-run refineries as inefficient, and warned against the emergence of a one-party system.
Despite his concerns, Obasanjo maintained that Nigeria can still recover, but only with improved leadership and a shift in governance approach.
