Chris Nwaokobia Jnr., Convener of the Country First Movement, has urged President Bola Tinubu to adopt a more decisive approach to addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Speaking on Niger Unfiltered, a current affairs programme on SYMFONI, Nwaokobia expressed concern over persistent insecurity across the country, citing kidnapping, banditry, killings, and other violent crimes that continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.
He argued that despite repeated assurances from government officials, many Nigerians remain fearful of travelling and conducting routine activities due to growing security concerns.
According to Nwaokobia, ransom kidnapping has become one of the most troubling aspects of the crisis, with criminal groups operating across multiple regions with increasing boldness. He maintained that effective leadership is most visible during periods of national difficulty and called for practical measures capable of producing measurable results.
Drawing on Nigeria’s recent political history, he referenced the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, highlighting what he described as a firm stance against militancy in the Niger Delta.
“Umaru Yar’Adua said, ‘If by the 4th of October, you do not surrender arms, I will blow down all the creeks,’” Nwaokobia recalled.
He said such declarations demonstrated a government’s determination to confront security threats and reassure citizens. Nwaokobia also called for greater transparency from authorities, urging the Federal Government to provide a clear roadmap for tackling insecurity and restoring public confidence in state institutions.
