Former Minister of Defence and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has blamed Nigeria’s persistent insecurity on a lack of political will, rather than any failure on the part of the armed forces.
Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano during the inauguration of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, where 2,000 trained operatives were deployed to strengthen community-level security.
He said Nigerian soldiers remain courageous, professional and well-trained, but are often constrained by insufficient political backing from the highest level of government.
“Our military officers and men are brave and competent. What is missing today is political will, particularly from the Commander-in-Chief,” Kwankwaso said.
Reflecting on his tenure as Minister of Defence, he noted that Nigerian troops have consistently earned international recognition for their performance in peacekeeping missions across Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur and other conflict zones on the continent.
According to him, the federal government must fulfill its constitutional responsibility by ensuring that security agencies are adequately equipped, funded and supported.
“The Commander-in-Chief must act decisively by providing the arms, equipment, training and retraining required to defeat criminal elements,” he added.
Kwankwaso also praised the Kano State Government for setting up the Neighbourhood Watch Corps, describing the initiative as a proactive response to rising security concerns, particularly in border communities.
