Insecurity Weaponized for Political Purposes, Says Okonjo-Iweala

The Annual General Conference took place at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, where key national issues were discussed, including the rising insecurity in Nigeria. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Minister of Finance and current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), delivered a powerful address on the political weaponization of security in the country.

“We all know that security has been weaponized in our country for political purposes by political actors, leading partly to the situation we have now,” Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stated during her speech. She highlighted how certain politicians manipulate insecurity to undermine their opponents, making them appear incapable of governing. This, she warned, often results in the tragic loss of lives and property of innocent Nigerians.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stressed the urgency of ending these practices, calling on all stakeholders to prioritize the nation’s welfare over political gains. “This has to stop,” she urged, emphasizing that the consequences of such actions are far-reaching and detrimental to the country’s stability.

In addition to her remarks on the politicization of insecurity, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also addressed the broader impact of the ongoing security crisis on Nigeria’s socio-economic development. She pointed out that the prolonged state of insecurity hampers the nation’s progress and urged the government to adopt advanced technologies to combat the theft of national assets.

Her comments have sparked widespread discussions on the need for a unified approach to tackling insecurity and ensuring that political ambitions do not come at the expense of the nation’s peace and prosperity.