Laolu Akande, a former presidential aide, has weighed in on the ongoing dispute between the Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the controversy over an alleged threat to Obi’s life reflects a broader issue in Nigeria’s political landscape—the absence of a strong and effective opposition.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Akande opined that the ongoing controversy involving the APC and Obi shows the glaring absence of a strong opposition in the country.
“The absence of a strong opposition is why things like this become the talking points. We need to pay more attention to the substantive issues affecting the country,” noted.
“I don’t think Obi’s life is being threatened at all, and I say that with all sense of responsibility,” he said. Akande urged caution in public discourse, noting, “We all have to be careful with how we speak publicly. I think there’s too much drama around this issue, and we are missing the bigger picture.”
He lamented the lack of a serious opposition in Nigeria, which he believes has shifted focus from pressing national concerns to trivial disputes.
The veteran journalist also called for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments to address the persistent threat of banditry, insurgency, and insecurity in Nigeria.
Akande noted critical gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly in states like Zamfara, which have vast ungoverned spaces.
“The issue of security, whether at the national or state level, is that you have to get it right all the time,” Akande said. “The bandits or insurgents only need one opportunity to show that the government didn’t get it right. It’s a very difficult situation, which is why we must focus on persistent and consistent strategies to tackle it.”
Akande stressed that the lifting of security restrictions, such as the no-fly zone imposed on Zamfara during the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, might have inadvertently contributed to the recent surge in violence in the state.
“We don’t know whether there is a connection between lifting the ban and what is happening now. This tells us that we haven’t really sorted out the problem,” he said.
He commended the Nigerian military for its efforts but acknowledged that more must be done.
“The security agencies, especially the military, have done a yeoman’s job. But again, a lot still has to be done. We need a comprehensive collaboration between the federal and state governments to address this.”
Akande also weighed in on the prosecution of those involved in the tragic stampede during an event in Ibadan last December. The Oyo State Government has charged three individuals, including media personality Oriyomi Hamzat and the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, to court. Akande advocated for a transparent judicial process to resolve the matter.
“We should apply the law equally at all times,” he said. “What happened in Ibadan involves different levels of responsibility. The organisers should have done their due diligence, but it’s also important to examine at what point the state government became aware of the event.”
Akande expressed hope that the judicial process would clarify key issues, such as whether the offenses are bailable. “Let the courts determine the next steps, but we must not excuse the state’s role in ensuring such incidents don’t happen,” he said.
