Politics
Political Servicemen And Failure Of Security Architecture
When the Service Chiefs took the front seats at the campaign flag off of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, it became obvious that this nation has hit her lowest point. High profile servicemen who swore to protect the rest of the country through unbiased application of security techniques have turned against the country, preferring to become politicians overnight.
Days after they committed themselves to campaigning for the worst performing President, the unthinkable happened. Rampaging terrorists invaded military facilities in Metele. The figures of soldiers killed have been subject of endless debates.
Even as I write, the British media reported last Thursday that Boko Haram killed more soldiers. The soldiers on ground in the theatre of war claim they have no equipment and morale is low.
Before our very eyes, the failed APC Federal Government has turned the Nigerian Army into a weapon to advance the ugly political journey of a rejected political party. It has lost the theatres of war and is creating zones of insecurity on behalf of the APC. We watched with sadness soldiers carrying placards in Maiduguri because terrorists were killing them and they lacked equipment for defence.
Under the present leadership of the Nigerian Army, things have continued to degenerate. The absurd is the norm. But the Chief of Army Staff continues to keep his job because of his political relevance to the APC Federal Government.
On Thursday, 29th November, 2019, the nation woke up to another criminal act of the Nigerian Army. This time they invaded the NYSC Orientation camp where recruited personnel of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency were being trained.
They unleashed mayhem on the unarmed personnel, shot sporadically and injured several others. They abducted the trainers and destroyed facilities at the camp.
The training camp was turned into a scene of a horror movie by personnel of the Nigerian Army. Quite sadly, the Nigerian Army has joined the Nigerian Police in the unbridled acts of shame.
For hours, the show of shame of the Nigerian Army at the training ground of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency trended on social media. The cries of the 3000 recruits were heartrending.
The Nigerian Army did the expected. They issued a senseless and pedestrian press statement. A statement that exposed the low quality of personnel who mismanage the nation’s security architecture, simply because they are dancing to the discordant tunes of the APC.
One Aminu Ilyasu, who parades himself as a quota colonel issued a statement claiming that the Nigerian Army discovered an illegal military training camp at Nonwa. The quota colonel made several outlandish claims to justify the act of illegality.
He claimed on behalf of his political godfathers that similar illegal militia camps exist in Benue and Taraba States. It is most unfortunate that even in lying, these political soldiers cannot be logical and intelligent.
The quota colonel and his masters are clever by half. The Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency is a creation of the law and due process.
It was in a bid to improve the security of communities that Rivers State Governor, Nysom Ezenwo Wike gave his assent to the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No.8 of 2018 passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
On the same day, the Governor also gave his assent to the Rivers State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) (Amendment) Law No.6 of 2018 and the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) (Amendment) No.2 Law No.7 of 2018. Governor Wike said that the laws are necessary to enhance security across the state.
He said that Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency would support existing security agencies with intelligence and information for them to effectively fight crime and make the state safer.
The establishment of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency followed due process all the way. On April 16, Governor Wike inaugurated the board of directors of the agency.
Those inaugurated as Board of Directors of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency include: Rtd Brigadier General Dick Ironabare –Chairman ,Chief Casca Ogosu –Member ,Mr Dennis Amachree -Member ,Prof Emenike Wami -Member,Anthony Uzo Ozurumba -Member
,Uche Mike Chukwuma – Director General
,Mrs Victoria Chikeka — Member , Barrister Nma Omereji , Secretary/Legal Adviser.
At the inauguration, Governor Wike charged the board of directors to kick-start the process of recruiting quality operatives for the agency.
Responding, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency , Brigadier General Dick Ironabare assured the government and people of the state that the agency would work to enhance state-wide security.
He commended the Rivers State Governor for deeming it necessary to set up the new security scheme, which is in line with international best practices of securing communities.
Empowered by law and the Rivers State Government, the leadership of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency started a recruitment drive which spanned several months of screening involving security agencies. Thousands of Rivers youths applied online in a process that was done transparently. It was a trending issue across the state. The website of the agency kept Nigerians abreast of the recruitment process.
Following the directive of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for the the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency ( RIVNESCA) to recruit quality operatives, the agency on Monday 19th November, 2018 commenced the final process of recruiting 3000 personnel.
Thousands of shortlisted candidates gathered at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt for screening by officials of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency ( RIVNESCA) .The statement credited to the quota colonel smacks of gross misconduct and irresponsibility in view of the fact that the General Officer Commanding of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army was informed via a letter of the training exercise.
In a letter titled and dated 12 November,2018: “Request for Drill and Physical Training Instructors”, Brigadier General Dick Ironabare (rtd) –Chairman of Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency outlined the law establishing the agency, functions and recruitment process. The letter was duly acknowledged by the headquarters of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Nwakaudu is Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Electornic Media.
It is sad that the Nigerian Army has joined the Police in suffering from the degenerative security disease. They have abdicated their security responsibilities and descended into the Political arena.
The Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency is patterned after a similar agency still in existence in Lagos State. The Nigerian Army or any security agency for that matter have never challenged the existence of that agency.
Vigilante groups are in existence in Zamfara and Kogi States, with no challenge from the Nigerian Army. Civilian Joint Task Force are in operation in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States under the direct supervision of the Nigerian Army.
The invasion of the training camp of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency is an act of intimidation. Governor Wike has made it quite clear that the Government and People of the state will not succumb to this act of recklessness induced by political hallucination.
The security of lives and property in Rivers State is paramount. Nobody will allow a group of political soldiers with no proven security pedigree to derail the state. In saner climes, the Chief of Army Staff would have thrown in the towel as he is no longer relevant to the resolution of the security challenge facing the country. He is now a major stumbling block to the peace and security of this country.
When the Nigerian Army begins to compete with Lie Mohammed for the lying medal, then it is obvious that we must all re-double our efforts to sack the failed APC Federal Government.
By: Simeon Nwakaudu.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.