Professor Anthony Kila, Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies has backed comments by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on security, saying they amount to a vote of no confidence in the current government.
Kila made the statement in an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday while reacting to Obasanjo’s position on the role of government.
“Let me put it in a parliamentary context. That is a vote of no confidence,” he said.
“I think we must agree. Obasanjo says the first duty of government is security. And if the government is not able to do that, then the government has no reason to exist.”
He said Obasanjo’s intervention was necessary and should be taken seriously.
“I think it is right that he’s done this intervention. We have to be grateful to him for doing it.”
Kila said the issue of insecurity is not new but said that the current government must take responsibility.
“Yes, it is not a problem that started with this present government. That is correct. It’s something that has a long story. But this present government is in charge.”
He added that more voices should speak on the situation.
“We must thank Chief Obasanjo for pointing it out. Because some of the statesmen are not talking.”
Obasanjo had earlier said any government that fails to protect lives and property has no justification to exist.
He linked Nigeria’s challenges to poor leadership and raised concerns about the country’s declining influence in regional and international affairs, including its handling of relations within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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