Govt that fails to protect its citizens has no business remaining in office – Kwankwaso
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu of lacking the political will to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Kwankwaso made the remarks on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network. He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in confronting banditry and other security threats.
According to him, Nigeria’s military remains one of the most gallant globally, citing its record in international peacekeeping missions in places like Darfur and Liberia. However, he said the armed forces are not being given the necessary support, direction and political backing to perform effectively.
“Many innocent Nigerians are being killed while the perpetrators walk freely,” Kwankwaso said, adding that the government owes Nigerians an apology for what he described as its lax response to insecurity.
The former Defence Minister said he was fully aware of the military’s capacity, stressing that while the armed forces are professional and courageous, they need clear leadership and adequate resources to succeed.
Kwankwaso also pledged that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security. He warned that any government that fails to protect lives and property has failed fundamentally.
He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, such as the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security framework to improve intelligence gathering and boost morale in the fight against crime.
