Injustice, oppression fuelling insecurity in Nigeria — Experts

SECURITY experts, academics and legal practitioners have identified injustice, oppression and abuse of power as some of the major factors responsible for insecurity in Nigeria.

They therefore recommended justice, fair hearing, accountable leadership and equitable distribution of resources as solutions to the security challenges facing the country.

They made these declarations at the annual Ramadan lecture organised by Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Oyo State chapter.

The event, held on Sunday in Ibadan, had the Acting Deputy Director of Islamic Affairs, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Lieutenant Colonel Adeleke Lawal, as guest speaker.

Professor Taofeek Yekeen of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, and Mr Rasheed Adelakun, Director of the Department of State Service in Oyo State, served as discussants.

Lawal disclosed that injustice, oppression, discrimination and abuse of power by public officeholders are major factors responsible for insecurity in Nigeria.

Delivering a paper titled ‘Security and Economy: Islamic Model for Accountable Leadership’, he explained that security is tied to justice, stressing that injustice destroys security.

He said peace and stability cannot exist where oppression, discrimination and abuse of power prevail.

He noted that many Nigerians are languishing in abject poverty despite the nation’s abundant resources due to widespread injustice, discrimination and abuse of power.

He warned that when economic power is monopolised by a small group, national security is undermined.

Lawal advised government at all levels and public officeholders to ensure equitable distribution of resources, noting that this would help reduce social vices to the minimum.

He said: “Security and economy are not peripheral issues; they are foundational pillars of civilisation. When security collapses, economic life suffocates. When economic injustice spreads, insecurity multiplies. When leadership lacks accountability, both security and economic stability deteriorate simultaneously.”

“Where leadership is ethical and responsible, stability and prosperity follow. Islam does not treat security and economy as isolated administrative sectors. Rather, it integrates them within a comprehensive model of accountable leadership rooted in justice, trust and moral responsibility before Allah and society.

“Security is tied to justice, meaning that peace and stability cannot exist where oppression, discrimination or abuse of power prevail. When citizens trust that laws are fair and rights are protected, social order becomes sustainable.

“Injustice destroys security because when people are denied fairness, marginalised economically or treated unequally before the law, resentment grows. That resentment eventually manifests as crime, rebellion or social unrest.

“Moral corruption leads to instability. When bribery, exploitation, dishonesty and abuse of office become normalised, institutions weaken. Once institutions weaken, insecurity multiplies and economic confidence collapses.”

In their separate contributions, Yekeen and Adelakun called on government at all levels to address prevailing imbalances in the country.

Chairman of the occasion, the senator representing for Oyo South Senatorial District, Sharafadeen Alli, noted that the newly signed Electoral Act would go a long way in improving the nation’s electoral process.

He added that the Act would minimise challenges facing democracy in the country and charged the electorate to hold their representatives accountable.

“As your elected representatives, you can ask questions. Gone are the days when they say you should not go out to vote. I want to urge you to ask questions. The Electoral Act has taken away the power from politicians; those who want to rig elections. There is no way now.

“The Act has removed power from politicians who usually rig elections. It has taken that power from them. The Electoral Act will deepen our democracy,” he said.

Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial District, in his remarks, noted that MULAN has been at the forefront of defending human rights in the country and urged the association to continue in that role.

He described the lecture as timely.

The event was attended by the deputy governor of Oyo State, Chief Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, who was represented by Mr Kunle Sanni; member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan North West/South West Constituency of Oyo State, Honourable Dikhrullah Adedeji Olajide; former Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu; Chief Imam of Oyo, Sheikh Bilal Akewugberu; chairman of the association, Mr. Ismail Saka; Justice Tajudeen Abdulganiy; chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, Mr Ibrahim Lawal; Mr. Yemi Akangbe (SAN), among others.