By Kingsley Omonobi, Luminous Jannamike, Abuja

National leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has described the President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office as a missed opportunity to fulfill his promise to secure Nigerians.

He said the government, which will complete its mandate in a couple of months,  did not address pertinent issues the citizens expected President Buhari to tackle.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano and Minister of Defence, stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief when they voted for ‘Change’ in 2015 after more than four years of insurgency and other security challenges in the country. 

However, the presidential hopeful said Nigerians were disappointed in the present administration because insecurity, according to him, had worsened and economic hardship had deepened.

He said, “Once you form a government either as president or governor, you belong to the entire state or country. Everyone belongs to you. You have the responsibility to protect them and  ensure the people have a good life. These are the issues. Once you miss all these steps, insecurity becomes the consequence”. 

“They had the opportunity for the good for the country, but they couldn’t do it. Election is around the corner and they are promising to do their best for Nigeria. We have not seen their best.

“Every military man and woman, including people like me who had an opportunity to associate with the military and other security agencies must be very worried, but at the same time very surprised by what is happening in this country.

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“What we see happening is very sad. People are not talking about how to rescue those kidnapped after the Kaduna train attack.

“How did we get here? The government should be more serious about security. As a former Minister of Defence, I never thought insecurity will ever be this low in this country within this short period of time. How did we find ourselves in this mess? What actually happened?

‘Our issues in this country have to do with the leadership. When the political leadership is not strong enough to motivate the military, and ensure they are taken care of in terms of training and retraining as well as provision of equipment, arms and ammunition to match the bandits.

“Nobody is talking about rescuing people and the killings and abductions continue to happen again. So, I believe the government has to do more. We are so worried, and I believe security is one of the areas we will handle with utmost competence so Nigerians can be free again to pursue their daily businesses. We want the military and other law enforcement agencies to tackle insecurity.” 

Kwankwaso added, “In any case, I want to  assure that INEC as well as the security agencies will do their best. in the 2023 elections.. I want to assure you that Nigerians are angry and will do whatever they can to vote and stand by their votes.

“The people will also do their best to bring the changes that they want to see in this country. People are not happy at all with what is happening. 

“The 2023 election will be between those who are happy with what has happened  am d those who want change. We are not happy or satisfied with what is happening and we want to change it. The system is not working and everyone knows it.”

Vanguard News Nigeria