A former Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), has outlined a comprehensive approach for addressing the pervasive insecurity plaguing Nigeria.
In a published interview at the weekend, General Agwai said said that the government can only end insecurity in the country by getting to the root causes.
He listed hunger, injustice, absence of dialogue, lack of integrating people together, the issue of being told to your face that you are not entitled to something because you belong either to a different ethnic group or you belong to a different religion, executing policies in a non-inclusive way and excluding some people and politics of the winner takes all as some of the root causes of insecurity.
The former Commander of the Combined United Nations-African Union Peacekeeping Force in Dafur, Sudan, concluded that if the root causes of insecurity are not addressed, even with the best trained military with all the weapons and everything in the world, the problem with not be solved.
The Kaduna State-born retired army chief emphasised that the key to resolving the crisis lies in tackling its root causes, rather than relying solely on military intervention.
General Agwai identified several fundamental issues contributing to the country’s insecurity, including hunger, injustice, lack of dialogue, ethnic and religious discrimination, exclusionary policies, and the winner-takes-all nature of Nigerian politics.
He underscored the need for inclusive governance and socio-economic reforms to address these underlying problems.
General Agwai’s insights provided a strategic framework for addressing Nigeria’s insecurity, emphasising the necessity of addressing root causes through inclusive governance and socio-economic development.
Reflecting on his recent activities, the General shared his involvement in academic and governance initiatives, such as his role as a visiting professor at the African Leadership Centre of Kings College, London, and his work with the ‘Nigerian Working Group on Good governance and Security’.
Discussing a personal experience with banditry, General Agwai recounted how armed bandits raided his farm and stole over 100 cows. This incident highlighted the expertise and organization of the bandits and underscored the complexity of the insecurity challenge in Nigeria.
Addressing the broader issue of national security, General Agwai stressed that security should not be viewed purely as a military concern. He argued for a holistic approach that considers socio-economic factors, such as food security and employment, as integral to achieving lasting peace. He noted that while the military can create an enabling environment, solving the root causes of insecurity requires the involvement of the entire society.
General Agwai also touched on the need for a local military industrial complex to reduce dependency on foreign arms supplies and emphasized the importance of producing military equipment domestically.
Reflecting on Kaduna State’s persistent insecurity, General Agwai argued that military presence alone cannot solve the problem. He called for addressing socio-political grievances and integrating diverse groups to foster unity and peace.
Regarding President Tinubu’s administration, General Agwai refrained from commenting extensively on economic policies but acknowledged the severe hardship faced by Nigerians due to recent policy changes.
The General Agwai praised the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy over the past 25 years and highlighted the importance of learning from past mistakes to strengthen democratic governance.
