— Says external military actions require urgent internal reforms to deliver lasting results

Presidential hopeful, Gbenga Hashim, has described the recent United States airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) elements operating within Nigeria as a damning indictment of the country’s security architecture, blaming what he called persistent governance failures under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC-led administration.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Hashim said the US intervention underscores growing international concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, particularly in the North-West, where terrorist groups are steadily consolidating their influence.

According to the former presidential candidate, responsible global actors cannot afford to ignore the emergence of an IS foothold in Nigeria, stressing that the country is “too large, too strategic, and too important to be allowed to fail.”

Hashim disclosed that since 2021—and with greater urgency over the past year—his team had repeatedly warned that security modelling in the North-West pointed towards a dangerous trajectory, including the potential emergence of an IS-aligned enclave if decisive action was not taken.

He attributed the worsening insecurity to deepening poverty, prolonged governance failures and weakened institutions, which he said have emboldened extremist groups while marginalising moderate political and secular voices across the region.

“More worrying is the elevation of individuals who enable or rationalise extremism into positions of political influence, creating conditions under which terror groups can aspire to territorial control,” he said.

While acknowledging that international airstrikes may temporarily degrade terrorist capabilities, Hashim stressed that sustainable solutions must be driven internally.

He noted that external military interventions are unlikely to be isolated actions and must therefore be carefully negotiated within the framework of security cooperation between sovereign nations, with clear accountability mechanisms and transparent reporting structures to prevent abuse and ensure long-term stability.

“The situation in the North-West is dire. Without urgent internal reforms, improved governance and decisive political leadership, external military interventions will not produce sustainable results,” Hashim warned.

He further questioned the readiness of the APC-led government to implement the critical reforms required to stabilise the country, arguing that Nigeria continues to face deep-rooted governance and security deficits that threaten its democratic future.

Hashim also alleged that the government’s apparent reluctance to act decisively may be linked to political compromises made during the 2015 struggle for power, which he said now constrain its ability to confront extremist elements directly.

He concluded by warning that Nigeria can no longer afford denial or half-measures in the face of what he described as an existential threat, calling for urgent and courageous leadership to halt the further deterioration of national security.