Expose Those Behind Insecurity,  Fmr NBA Chairman, Olanipekun Tells FG

By Ayodele Oni

In the wake of rising banditry and kidnappings in the country, legal luminary and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has urged Nigerians to expose those behind insecurity.

He charged that people should stop concealing the identities of individuals that are  sabotaging government’s efforts to curtail the rising wave of insecurity in the country, noting that the government must be bold enough to name those undermining the country’s peace.

“We don’t need foreign intervention. Let us expose those troubling Nigeria. Let us build a solid bridge of unity that cannot collapse.”

The former NBA chairman identified regional federalism as the most viable path to resolving Nigeria’s longstanding political, security and developmental challenges.

Speaking during at his Ikere-Ekiti residence on Saturday, shortly after the 29th Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme and 6th Wole Olanipekun Foundation Empowerment Programme, the Senior Advocate emphasized that restructuring Nigeria along regional lines would promote integration, strengthen governance and accelerate development.

According to him, regional federalism—where regions administer their affairs while ceding only constitutionally assigned powers to the centre—remains the “surest solution” to the country’s current woes.

He added that the model would enable each region to negotiate its priorities, harness its strengths and work more cohesively for growth.

“Through regional federalism, the regions can integrate properly.

“Let the residual powers reside in the regions while the centre handles what traditionally belongs to it. I have said this repeatedly—and if anyone has a better option, let them bring it forward for Nigeria’s sake.”

He expressed deep worry about Nigeria’s rising insecurity, kidnapping, killings and what he described as increasing “inhumanity of man to man.”

He questioned why citizens have become disloyal to the nation and hostile towards one another, insisting that the country’s problems are largely self-inflicted.

“The way out is to stop the inhumanity among us. We must love one another, be kind, stop waging war against our own country and remember that life is transient. The solution to Nigeria’s crisis is love, loyalty and sincerity.”

Olanipekun warned against greed and self- centeredness, urging Nigerians to embrace humanitarian values and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“I would not have been this successful if I had not been impacting lives. A selfish life is an empty life. Success comes through the benevolence of God. Nigerians must be humanists if we want a nation free of challenges.”