Insecurity, The Biggest Threat To 2023 Elections, Warns Lawal Adamu Usman

"Before the 2023 general elections, Government should strengthen all the security apparatuses across the country, to be able to demonstratively, address the situation beyond lip service." Mr. LA.

"The current insecurity situation might not allow the 2023 elections to hold, especially if voters are not allowed to exercise their rights because of fear of being harmed, kidnapped, or killed.

A frontline aspirant for the 2023 Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Mal. Lawal Adamu Usman, Mr. LA has cautioned that, the worsening level of insecurity in Nigeria, described as deplorable and frightening, constitutes the most serious and biggest threat to next year’s general elections.

In a statement issued, Mr. LA, who is seeking the senatorial ticket under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, opined that, "the current insecurity situation might not allow the 2023 elections to hold, especially if the voters are not allowed to exercise their rights because of fear of being harmed, kidnapped, or killed.

"The Federal Government appears to be struggling to nip the ugly situation in the bud but its current effort is not good enough." He stated.

"The current worsening insecurity ravaging the country, especially in the North-West region, must be effectively tackled to ensure the conduct of the elections."

He bemoaned the recent daring attack perpetrated by terrorists on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train around Katari-Rijana area in Kaduna State, which resulted to the unfortunate death of some passengers with others sustaining injuries and many reportedly kidnapped by the daredevil terrorists.

Expressing his concerns as to the continued attacks by the armed groups and terrorists, Mr. LA stressed that the unrelenting attacks calls to question, the strategies and tactics being adopted by the nation's security forces.

"If this situation is not well-managed, these bandits and terrorists will take advantage of the 2023 election, if adequate security is not put in place. 

"Therefore, before the 2023 general elections, Government should strengthen all the security apparatus across the country, to be able to demonstratively, address the situation beyond lip service." He advised.

He further lamented that terrorists have in recent times stepped-up attacks on some communities and public facilities across the region, and expressed disappointment and sadness with the increasing spate and sophistication of their coordinated attacks in the region.

He also recalled the recent attack by bandits in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State, where about 50 people were killed while an unspecified number of persons were abducted in nine communities as well as the weekend’s temporary take over of the Kaduna International Airport by over 200 well-armed terrorists.

Mr. LA noted that, "We find it strange that Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufa'i, had in 2014 criticised the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, calling them incompetent. 

"At that time, he publicly declared that as the opposition party then, they had no apologies for pointing out to Nigerians that the government is incompetent and had failed in its primary responsibility, which is to provide security for the citizens.

"The years since 2014 may have led some people to forget el-Rufa'i's accusation, but the same situation has now continued to trail the present administration, and has exposed its failure to tackle the unending insecurity bedevilling, not only the masses but now the elites in Kaduna State, the North and Nigeria at large.

The very concerned stakeholder warned that, "unless the Buhari administration solves this insecurity issue, ultimately, post-2023, it would be defined solely by its failure to respond to the ongoing incessant attacks and abductions of innocent citizens and not by anything else.

While regretting the recent killings and kidnappings in the State, Mr. Lawal Adamu Usman sympathised with the affected families, saying "we share the aim of the safe return of all the innocent kidnapped victims. 

"We mourn the dead and offer our condolences to the families and friends of the deceased", he stated.