In the wake of mounting social unrest across Africa, with Kenya as the latest epicenter, a stark warning has been issued to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to underestimate the simmering frustrations of Nigerians.
Former Deputy Chief of Defence Administration at the Defence Intelligence Agency(DIA), retired Commodore Kunle Olawumi, said this on Thursday.
Olawunmi who is now a lecturer at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, highlighted Nigeria’s precarious societal conditions and the potential for widespread insurrection if immediate action isn’t taken.
Speaking at a public lecture titled “The Nexus Between Governance and Societal Needs and Peace in Nigeria,” attended by academics and students alike, Olawunmi painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s current state.
“Nigeria is in a state of anomie,” he declared, emphasising the severe economic crisis and pervasive poverty plaguing the nation.
He criticised the political elite for perpetuating a system that neglects the basic needs of ordinary Nigerians, leaving the country in a perpetual state of insecurity and underdevelopment.
Olawunmi’s address didn’t mince words when discussing the failures of governance.
“Money politics has eroded societal well-being,” he lamented, pointing out the disconnect between the ruling class and the masses.
He criticised the lack of substantial progress in crucial areas like electricity provision, despite decades of democratic rule.
“The scale of the good life is skewed in favour of political elites,” he asserted, highlighting the widening gap between the governed and the governors.
Drawing parallels with recent events in Kenya, where widespread protests have rocked the government,Olawunmi cautioned that Nigeria could be next if urgent steps are not taken to address the people’s grievances.
“The government must heed the cries of the people,” he urged, warning that ignoring these voices could lead to a loss of control similar to what Kenya’s President is currently facing.
Proposing bold measures to combat corruption, Olawunmi advocated legislative reforms that would criminalise corruption with severe penalties, including capital punishment.
He argued that such measures are necessary to instill a new ethical standard in Nigerian governance and to restore public trust.
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