The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of lacking the political will needed to effectively tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Kwankwaso made the remarks on Tuesday in Kano during the unveiling of the 2,000-strong Kano Neighborhood Security Network, an initiative established by the Kano State Government to complement local security efforts.
The NNPP national leader urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and act as Commander-in-Chief” by taking decisive action against insecurity across the country.
According to him, the Nigerian military remains one of the most gallant forces globally, referencing its peacekeeping roles in Darfur and Liberia, but said inadequate political support has constrained its effectiveness.
“Today, many Nigerians are being killed innocently, and their killers go unpunished as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” Kwankwaso said.
Reflecting on his tenure as Minister of Defence, Kwankwaso stressed that the armed forces are capable of restoring security if properly supported.
“I know the strength of the Nigerian military. They are courageous. What they need is political will to do what is required,” he said.
He noted that in the past, Nigerian troops returned from international missions with commendable records, arguing that adequate funding, modern equipment and strong political backing are essential to reversing the current security crisis.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Kwankwaso said that if elected president, he would recruit over one million military personnel to strengthen national security.
He maintained that any government unable to protect lives and property has “woefully failed and has no business being in power.”
The former Kano State governor also called on the federal government to integrate state-backed initiatives such as the Kano Neighborhood Security Network into the national security framework to improve coordination, boost morale and enhance collaboration in the fight against insecurity nationwide.
