by I write with a heavy heart over the daily loss of lives and the unlawful captivity of innocent Nigerians in the hands of kidnappers, bandits, terrorists, and other shades of criminals.
Government performs many functions, but I align with the school of thought that considers three to be foremost:
1.Security – protecting lives, property, and national sovereignty.
2.Justice – maintaining law, order, and equal treatment under the law.
3.Welfare – promoting the economic and social well-being of the people.
Judged from the standpoint of citizens who have become victims of insecurity, these functions appear gravely impaired. My reasoning is inspired by the parable of the lost sheep recorded in Luke 15:4–7 and Matthew 18:12–14. Jesus asked:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?”
The lesson is profound. Even if ninety-nine citizens remain untouched by criminality, the one person languishing in captivity, mourning a murdered relative, or displaced from home ought to command our utmost concern. The pain of a single victim outweighs the comfort of many who have not yet tasted such tragedy.
It is in this spirit that I urge the leader of government, President Tinubu, not merely to declare a state of emergency on security, but to actualize one through decisive and extraordinary measures until every lost sheep is reunited with the flock.
In the 1980s, while visiting acquaintances in Ajegunle, I was close to tears at the sight of elderly women—perhaps already grandmothers—carrying on their heads portions of slaughtered cows, some with horns still attached and others with tails dangling behind them, trudging along in a rugged struggle for daily bread.
Nigeria in 2026 still abounds with hardworking people. Visit Ladipo and observe mechanics and traders whose overalls bear the artistic imprint of years of engine oil and grease. Visit Ketu Market and witness men racing to arriving trucks, competing for the chance to unload foodstuffs and push carts for customers in order to earn an honest living. Yet many of these industrious Nigerians return at night to overcrowded “face-me-I-face-you” dwellings located far from their workplaces.
Across Lagos, old structures are giving way to modern apartments, but the poor are increasingly pushed farther away from developing areas, only to wake before dawn and return daily to the same markets in pursuit of survival.
Many would gladly relocate to their ancestral communities to farm or engage in other productive ventures. Unfortunately, the fear of kidnapping and banditry has become, sadly, the beginning of wisdom.
This explains my earlier analogy of the ninety-nine and the one. A mother blessed with ten children would live in anguish if only one child were abducted, finding little comfort in the presence of the other nine. Likewise, a child constructing a magnificent house for aging parents would be unwise to continue the project while neglecting urgent medical treatment that could save a parent’s life.
There should be neither naivety nor half-truths in assessing responsibility. It would be unfair to heap all the blame for today’s insecurity on the present administration, given that many of these challenges accumulated over decades. Yet it is equally true that the burden of finding quick, innovative, and effective solutions rests on the shoulders of the current government.
When citizens complain about insecurity, defenders of government often redirect blame to state and local governments. Such responses are unhelpful. The police remain largely centralized. Security personnel themselves are frequently criticized for circumstances beyond their control.
What is the strength of our police force compared with international standards for policing per capita? What truly boosts the morale of officers? Is it their remuneration? Is it adequate compensation for families of those who fall in the line of duty? Do they possess sufficient equipment? If they do, how many have received the training necessary to deploy such equipment effectively?
Mr. President, history remembers leaders not merely for roads, bridges, and economic reforms, but for the number of citizens who slept in peace under their watch. You earned recognition as Governor of Lagos for your financial engineering and developmental blueprint. Kindly add another feather to your cap by making Nigeria significantly safer for ordinary citizens.
Finally, let us remember that God remains the ultimate arbiter of human affairs. The anxieties of winning or losing the next election should never take precedence over the urgent demands of the present. A Renewed Hope should not become fully realized only after countless citizens have perished or families have been plunged into permanent grief.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
