Obasanjo, Insecurity, and Economy: Hayatu-Deen Proposes Solutions

Nigeria, like many nations, grapples with the twin specters of insecurity and economic hardship. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent pronouncement that a government failing to secure its citizens forfeits its right to exist, while perhaps stating the obvious to many Nigerians, resonates deeply. It underscores a national sentiment that the current administration has fallen short on its most fundamental duty.

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a government that cannot guarantee the security of lives and property has forfeited its right to exist.

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a presidential aspirant, steps into this critical conversation not just by agreeing with Obasanjo's diagnosis but by offering a prescription. His call for a comprehensive, full-spectrum security response, particularly the revitalization of the Multinational Joint Task Force, speaks to a pragmatic understanding of regional security dynamics. The weakening of this force, a collaboration with Nigeria's neighbors, is seen not merely as a tactical setback but as a diplomatic failure that emboldens insurgents.

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When he says Nigerians must not accept kidnapping as a way of life, the meaning is unmistakable.

Beyond security, Hayatu-Deen directly confronts the economic distress plaguing ordinary Nigerians. His critique of poorly sequenced macroeconomic reforms and their disproportionate impact on the populace reflects a common concern voiced across the country. The assertion that Nigerians are poorer today than three years ago is a stark reminder of the lived realities that political discourse must address. This perspective, from within Nigeria, emphasizes that security and economic well-being are inextricably linked, and that solutions must be holistic and regionally coordinated.

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The real question is: what must be done?