Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for immediate action to address the escalating insecurity affecting various regions of the country. His comments were made during a recent visit to Bauchi, where he commissioned several road projects initiated by the state’s Governor, Bala Mohammed.
During the visit, Obasanjo shared his personal experience of discovering his partial deafness while abroad, highlighting the broader health issues that can go unnoticed in society. He expressed concern over the increasing violence and insecurity plaguing Nigeria, stating, “The situation of insecurity in Nigeria today is so bad, unlike during our terms in office when we prioritized the security of lives and properties across the country.”
Obasanjo emphasized the importance of community policing as a viable solution to the rising insecurity. “The best form of security is community policing because everyone knows his/her neighbours within the community. With that, it is very easy to identify the bad eggs,” he stated, urging traditional rulers to play an active role in promoting this approach.
In his remarks to the Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Emir’s Palace, Obasanjo underscored the need for collective efforts in fostering peace and security. “We need peace, unity, and collective support in this country if we must move forward,” he noted, suggesting that Nigeria’s challenges could be addressed through unity and cooperation.
Reflecting on his administration’s focus on security, Obasanjo expressed disappointment with the current situation. “We need to do something urgently about this,” he said, reinforcing his commitment to enhancing community engagement in security matters.
Obasanjo also took the opportunity to discuss his foundation’s initiatives. He announced the distribution of hearing aids to 2,000 individuals in Bauchi, explaining that many people are unaware of their hearing impairments until they undergo medical examinations. “Many suffer deafness unknowingly until medical checks reveal their hearing capacity,” he said.
Describing his own journey to discovering his partial deafness, Obasanjo recounted a moment abroad when he struggled to hear a conversation. “After my result came out, I had to ask the man to also check on my Chief Security Officer then, but shockingly enough, he was more deaf than I was,” he shared, highlighting the prevalence of undiagnosed hearing issues.
The former President’s foundation has provided hearing treatments and aids to thousands of Nigerians, and he plans to extend this outreach to over 10,000 people in the Northeast, starting with the current distribution in Bauchi. “We will flag off the distribution of hearing aids to over 10,000 indigent people in the Northeast,” he stated.
Governor Bala Mohammed, in his address, remarked on the importance of the road projects being commissioned, emphasizing that they were part of a broader development strategy he established before his re-election. “Leadership is not about personal ambition but about the collective progress and well-being of our people,” he asserted.
The governor highlighted his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development, noting that his government has successfully completed 116 road projects spanning over 1,482 kilometers in Bauchi State. He described the newly commissioned roads as crucial to the state’s development goals.
“The road we are commissioning today has significant milestones in our journey to build a new Bauchi,” he said, detailing specific projects including the dualization of the Awala-Maiduguri road and key connections to the international airport.
