By Chief Akinwumi Akinfenwa
Recap of Part Three
In Part Three, we examined the collapse of the naira and its devastating consequences for businesses, households and the Nigerian middle class.
We noted how currency depreciation contributed to inflation, increased production costs, weakened purchasing power and accelerated the migration of skilled professionals abroad.
Yet economic hardship is only one dimension of governance.
The primary responsibility of any government remains the protection of lives and property.
Today, we examine APC’s record in the area that arguably contributed most to its electoral victory in 2015: security.
*Security: The Promise That Changed Nigerian Politics*
It is impossible to understand the APC’s rise to power without understanding the security concerns that dominated national discourse in 2015.
At the time, insurgency in the North-East had become a major challenge.
Many communities lived in fear.
Citizens demanded decisive action.
The APC campaigned vigorously on the promise of restoring security.
The party presented Muhammadu Buhari as a disciplined former military leader uniquely positioned to confront insecurity.
Millions of Nigerians believed that a new era of safety and stability was imminent.
That belief contributed significantly to APC’s victory.
More Than a Decade Later
More than twelve years after APC first assumed power, the security question remains unresolved.
While government officials frequently point to military successes and operational achievements, insecurity continues to affect large sections of the country.
The forms may vary.
The locations may differ.
The actors may change.
But the fear remains.
For many Nigerians, insecurity remains one of the defining realities of daily life.
*The Kidnapping Economy*
One of the most disturbing developments in recent years has been the rise of kidnapping.
What was once an isolated criminal activity has evolved into a widespread security challenge.
Travellers fear highways.
Students fear abduction.
Farmers fear attacks.
Communities fear raids.
Families live with constant anxiety.
Kidnapping has become not merely a security problem but an economic problem.
Businesses are affected.
Investments are discouraged.
Tourism suffers.
Agricultural productivity declines.
Entire communities become trapped in fear.
No nation can achieve sustainable development when insecurity becomes normalised.
*Banditry and Rural Insecurity*
Large areas of rural Nigeria continue to face threats from armed groups.
Farmers are frequently among the worst affected.
Many are unable to cultivate their lands safely.
Others abandon farming altogether.
The consequences extend far beyond affected communities.
Reduced agricultural production contributes to food shortages.
Food shortages contribute to inflation.
Inflation contributes to poverty.
Thus insecurity and economic hardship become mutually reinforcing.
The effects are felt even by citizens who live far from conflict zones.
*Terrorism and Insurgency*
Despite considerable military expenditures and security operations, terrorism remains a concern in several parts of the country.
To be fair, security challenges are complex.
No government can eliminate all threats overnight.
However, governments should be judged by outcomes.
After more than a decade in power, Nigerians are entitled to ask whether the security improvements promised in 2015 have been fully realised.
Many citizens would argue that the answer remains uncertain.
*The Human Cost of Insecurity*
Statistics often conceal human suffering.
Behind every security report lies a family.
A father who never returned home.
A mother displaced from her community.
A child deprived of education.
A farmer separated from his livelihood.
A business owner forced to relocate.
A community living in fear.
These are the realities that rarely appear in official statements but define the experiences of many citizens.
Security failures cannot be measured solely by numbers.
They must also be measured by human consequences.
*Security and Economic Development*
There is a direct relationship between security and prosperity.
Investors prefer stable environments.
Businesses expand where risks are manageable.
Farmers produce more when their safety is guaranteed.
Tourism flourishes when visitors feel secure.
Education thrives when schools operate without fear.
Insecurity therefore imposes enormous economic costs.
The damage extends beyond immediate victims.
It affects national development itself.
This is why security remains one of the most important indicators by which governments are judged.
*The Question of Accountability*
The APC asked Nigerians to trust its capacity to provide security.
That promise helped deliver electoral victory.
Today, Nigerians must determine whether the results justify that trust.
The issue is not whether efforts were made.
Every administration makes efforts.
The issue is whether those efforts produced the outcomes that citizens were promised.
That is the standard of accountability.
That is the standard democracy requires.
*Conclusion*
The first responsibility of government is protection.
Without security, economic growth becomes fragile.
Without security, investment becomes difficult.
Without security, communities cannot thrive.
Without security, hope itself becomes uncertain.
More than a decade after APC came to power on a promise of restoring security, millions of Nigerians continue to confront kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and fear.
The gap between promise and reality remains one of the defining issues that voters must consider as 2027 approaches.
*Next Week:*
*Part 5 – Debt, Corruption and the Burden on Future Generations*
In the next installment, we shall examine the dramatic growth of public debt under APC administrations, concerns about transparency and accountability, and what these developments mean for future generations of Nigerians.
*©️ Chief Akinwumi Akinfenwa*
*09091700203 – WhatsApp*
*07062986613 – Calls*
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