“Nigeria is showing signs of a failed nation” — Mike Ozekhome

Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has described the country as a failed nation due to the power possessed by “non-state actors” across the country.

Ozekhome, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, described the state of insecurity in the country, particularly in the Northeast, as a grave situation.

According to him, the level of insecurity is worrisome and it portrays the country as a failed or failing nation if the federal government cannot protect the lives and properties of the people.

“We are in a very dirty situation. Nigeria is literally crumbling. We must be very careful to hold this country together. When you see signs like this. They are signs of a failed or failing nation.

“One of the symptoms of a failed nation is when non-state actors posses equal or more potent power than the sovereign government that is voted into power by the people,” he said.

Speaking further, Ozekhome mentioned the security situation in Niger and Borno states and some other part of the Northeast where insurgents had turn themselves into political leaders.

“If you go to some places like Niger state, Northeast like Borno, you see some of this non-state actors occupying large swaths of land, collecting taxes from the indigenes.

“They issue identity cards and flaunt their flags. These are some of the symptoms of a failed nation. Nigerians need to sit down to have a constitutional conference where all these things will be discussed,” he added.

The lawyer also recognized the intervention of former aviation minister, Osita Chidoka and other leaders who have signed an open letter to the FG to save the country from insecurity crises.

Osita Chidoka in a virtual interview with Seun Okinbaloye had described the non-state actors situation as despicable as the number of deaths and attacks on communities rise exponentially.

According to him, Nigeria is at peace, but showing more symptoms far deeper than countries at war while calling for a presidential taskforce on national security.