Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress’ (AAC) presidential candidate, has stated that if elected, he will personally oversee Nigeria’s security operations and restructure the nation’s security framework.
In an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Sowore discussed the deteriorating state of insecurity and what he would do differently than President Bola Tinubu.
He declared, “I would take very seriously the part of the presidency that says you are the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and that will push me to the war front if I were the president today, as I have always said.”
He clarified that he would assume direct responsibility for security operations even though he would not be carrying any weapons.
Every operation in the nation will have a front and a back. I want to see my National Security Advisor every morning, but I’m not saying I’m going to carry a gun. I’d like to see every general in the army. “I would like to speak with them and encourage them,” Sowore stated.
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He went on to say that he will demand accountability in the purchase of equipment and defense spending.
I want to view the equipment in person to make sure it is what we claim to have bought. I would prefer to see them virtually if I am unable to visit them in person. He remarked, “I want to see that they are being used.”
The activist added that when choosing security heads, competency would be a key factor.
“I want to confirm the competence of each security chief. I would never use a retired, worn-out police officer with nothing else to do. To begin the process of taking the nation’s security seriously, I seek out younger, highly motivated, and skilled individuals,” he said.
He asserted that a shift in security concept and leadership style would immediately affect criminal activity.
Because there is currently no Commander-In-Chief in charge of the Armed Forces, he stated, “you will see that things will start changing even when criminals know that you have changed your security architecture, you have changed the mentality and the philosophy, and they are hearing from the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces in charge.”
The AAC candidate emphasized that larger social and economic issues were inextricably linked to insecurity.
Furthermore, I must mention that this insecurities are inextricably linked to other insecurities. Social Security must therefore exist. It is necessary to give young people jobs. He stated, “You must ensure that our educational system is engaging and absorbing youth.”
Additionally, Sowore advocated for consistent funding for social infrastructure.
“You must make investments in your health and athletics. In order for people to cherish life in general, he continued, “you have to invest across the board in processes that can engage people and bring about life that is suitable for people.”
He also maintained that violent crime is a direct result of unfavorable social and economic circumstances.
“You cannot have a police department, for example, where we are constantly shooting ourselves, you have no job, and you expect this to stop,” he stated.
Sowore emphasized that “all of these cannot be divorced from the general insecurity in the country” and named the lack of operational factories, schools, hospitals, and safe roads as one of the issues.
