Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has issued a scathing critique of the Nigerian federal government following a recent United States military airstrike conducted within the nation’s borders. He asserted that this foreign military action, reportedly executed in coordination with Nigerian authorities, serves as a significant indictment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Olawepo-Hashim argued that the incident unmistakably underscores a growing international apprehension regarding Nigeria’s rapidly deteriorating security landscape, which has become a persistent concern for global stability.
In a detailed statement released on Sunday, Olawepo-Hashim articulated his belief that the nation’s internal security framework is demonstrably weak and profoundly ineffective, a critical situation he attributes to deep-rooted systemic failures under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress-led government. He emphasised that responsible global actors, particularly those concerned with regional stability, cannot afford to disregard the potential establishment of an Islamic State (IS) foothold in Nigeria. He starkly described Nigeria as “too large, too strategic, and too important to be allowed to fail,” highlighting its pivotal role in West Africa and on the continent.
The former presidential hopeful revealed that his analytical team had consistently issued urgent warnings since 2021, with these advisories intensifying significantly over the past year, concerning a dangerous security trajectory in Nigeria’s North-West region. These prescient warnings specifically highlighted the alarming potential for the emergence of an IS-aligned enclave in the area if decisive and proactive security measures were not immediately implemented by the authorities. This foresight, he suggested, was based on comprehensive intelligence gathering and meticulous security modelling, which indicated a clear and escalating threat.
Olawepo-Hashim further expressed particular concern over what he described as the elevation of individuals who either tacitly enable or actively rationalise extremist ideologies into influential positions of political power. He contended that such appointments inadvertently create an environment highly conducive to terror groups aspiring to territorial control and expanding their operational reach. This, he argued, not only exacerbates the existing security threats facing the nation but also fundamentally undermines broader efforts to combat insurgency and restore peace effectively.
To illustrate the pervasive fragility of Nigeria’s internal security and the critical gaps in intelligence coordination, Olawepo-Hashim referenced the recent explosion in Offa, Kwara State. This specific incident, which caused widespread panic among residents and resulted in significant destruction of property, served as another stark and undeniable reminder of the critical vulnerabilities within the nation’s security apparatus. It underscored the urgent necessity for comprehensive reforms and improved synergy across all levels of government and security agencies.
While acknowledging that foreign airstrikes can offer a temporary and tactical degradation of terrorist capabilities, Olawepo-Hashim firmly stressed that any sustainable peace and long-term stability in Nigeria must fundamentally originate from robust and comprehensive internal reforms. He cautioned explicitly against an over-reliance on external military interventions as a primary solution, advocating instead for a profound and fundamental overhaul of the country’s indigenous security strategies, governance structures, and socio-economic policies to address the root causes of insecurity.
The former candidate also raised serious and pertinent concerns about the broader implications of repeated external interventions, particularly regarding Nigeria’s national sovereignty and the accountability of its leaders, if such engagements are not managed with the utmost care and transparency. He insisted that any security cooperation with foreign partners must be rigorously governed by clear, transparent frameworks, well-defined guidelines, and stringent oversight mechanisms. This, he argued, is crucial to safeguard Nigeria’s autonomy, protect its national interests, and ensure that all actions align with its sovereign objectives.
Olawepo-Hashim delivered a stark and urgent warning about the increasingly dire security situation, particularly prevalent in the North-West, reiterating his conviction that external military interventions alone would not yield sustainable or lasting results. He concluded by asserting unequivocally that without immediate and profound internal reforms, significant improvements in democratic governance, and decisive political leadership committed to long-term solutions, Nigeria faces a continued and arduous struggle against pervasive insecurity, thereby jeopardising its future stability, prosperity, and national cohesion.
