General News
2027: Don’t use security agencies for partisan interests, Irabor warns politicians
Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has warned politicians against using security agencies as instruments of partisan interests ahead of 2027 general elections.
Irabor gave the warning Wednesday in Abuja while delivering keynote address titled “Nigeria’s Security: A Collective Responsibility” at presentation of O’to’Ge: The Legacies of Political Leadership in Nigeria, authored by Edwin Akwueh, Chief News Editor of Voice of Nigeria.
He said Nigeria’s security challenges go beyond military operations and require collective responsibility, stressing that voters’ safety, protection of electoral officials and integrity of polls will be critical in 2027.
“Security is a shared enterprise — a social contract in which every citizen, institution and tier of government has a non-negotiable stake,” he said, warning that insecurity cannot be solved by Armed Forces, Police and intelligence agencies alone.
According to him, security remains foundation for political stability, economic development and democratic progress, noting no society advances when citizens live in fear and farmers abandon farms.
He said when communities lose confidence in security institutions, intelligence flow diminishes and social contract breaks down, especially when citizens believe state can no longer guarantee safety.
The former CDS explained that Nigeria’s population, vast geography and sophisticated criminal networks make it impossible for conventional agencies to address every threat without community vigilance, early-warning systems and timely information sharing.
Irabor identified poverty, youth unemployment, weak local governance and declining social cohesion as root causes military operations alone cannot eliminate, saying sustainable peace requires investments in education, justice and inclusive politics.
He urged political leaders to prioritise national cohesion, equip security professionals adequately and ensure their activities remain subject to effective accountability, while respecting rule of law and human rights.
On 2027 polls, he urged politicians to treat security as national concern, not partisan competition, saying peaceful elections would demonstrate ability of leaders, security institutions and citizens to protect democratic future.
He called on citizens to practise “See Something, Say Something,” traditional and religious leaders to promote coexistence, media to avoid compromising operations, and private sector to invest in security systems and youth employment.
Earlier, the author, Edwin Akwueh said book was inspired by his coverage of 2019 elections when O’to’Ge mantra ended 40-year Saraki dynasty in Kwara, and examines similar currents in Anambra, Yobe, Obidients Movement and “Emi lo kan” mantra.
He said book shows political success can be achieved without depending exclusively on godfathers, noting elections are not won by emotions alone but by strategy and deep understanding of electorate behaviour.