Politicians are the cause of Insecurity-Okonjo-Iweala blasts
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has strongly criticized politicians for exploiting insecurity in Nigeria for their own political and selfish agendas. In her remarks at the opening of the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, held in Lagos State on Sunday, Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the detrimental impact of political maneuvering on the nation’s security situation.
In her keynote address titled ‘A Social Contract For Nigeria’s Future,’ the former Minister of Finance pointed out that Nigeria’s current state of insecurity is a direct result of politicians manipulating these issues for their gain. She emphasized that meaningful development in the country cannot be achieved without a stable security environment. According to Okonjo-Iweala, the pervasive insecurity in Nigeria has been deliberately exacerbated by political figures who view it as a tool to discredit their rivals.
She remarked, “It is impossible to achieve socio-economic progress without a secure environment. Equally, security cannot be established without development. It is evident that insecurity in our country has been weaponized by political actors, contributing significantly to our current plight. Certain politicians believe that by fostering insecurity, they can tarnish their opponents’ reputations, even if this leads to the suffering and loss of innocent lives and property. This practice must end.”
Additionally, Okonjo-Iweala addressed the issue of widespread crude oil theft, noting its severe impact on the nation’s foreign reserves. She asserted that with today’s advanced technology, there are no valid reasons for failing to address this problem effectively. She stated, “Another crucial aspect of security involves protecting national assets. The extensive theft of crude oil has long undermined the economic and financial stability of our nation. All Nigerians must recognize that the theft of our national resources is unacceptable and must be halted immediately.”
Okonjo-Iweala concluded by stressing that modern technological solutions are available to monitor and prevent such thefts, and there should be no further excuses for inaction.
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