The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, Professor Wahab Egbewole, has called for a united national front against insecurity in Nigeria.
Professor Egbewole made the call during a press briefing at the University Auditorium , as part of activities marking the University’s 50th anniversary.
The VC said the celebration was taking place “at a defining moment in Nigeria’s history,” with renewed threats from terrorists and kidnappers across the country, including Kwara State.
He cited recent remarks by U.S. President, Donald Trump threatening to visit Nigeria “guns-a-blazing”, noting that Nigeria must welcome international support but reject actions that undermine the nation’s sovereignty.
Professor Egbewole emphasised that unity across ethnic, religious, and political divides was crucial to tackling insecurity.
He urged Nigerians to support the government and security agencies to combat crime.
Professor Egbewole urged Nigerians to put ethnic, religious, and political differences aside to save the country from recurrent origins of violence.
He said all hands must be on deck to ensure the success of the Nigerian project, saying we should all say NO to all forms of extremism across religious, ethnic and political fault lines that define the nation.
According to him, while partnership with world powers is welcome in defeating the monsters of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity ravaging Nigeria, to which Nigerians, regardless of sectional or sectarian orientations, are victims and casualties, it is another thing entirely for the sovereignty of Nigeria to be compromised, a violation of international law.
He said; “It is in this regard that I urge the American government to assist the Nigerian government with technology and equipment, both software and hardware, to defeat the monsters that make our lives ‘nasty, brutish and short.’
According to him, “if you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless, if you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind,” he said quoting former Nigerian Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo.
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