INSECURITY: Leadership demands action, stop using federal control as an alibi, Ogundipe blasts governors

A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the African Union of Journalists, Comrade Lanre Ogundipe, has heavily criticized Nigerian governors over the worsening wave of kidnappings across the country, warning them to stop using constitutional limitations and federal control of security forces as a perpetual alibi for governance failures.

In a hard-hitting press statement made available to Gistlife, Ogundipe maintained that leadership at critical moments demands urgency, empathy, visibility, and concrete solutions, rather than continuous lamentation and declarations of helplessness from state chief executives.

The veteran journalist pointed out a glaring contradiction in the behavior of the governors, specifically pointing to the recent complaints by Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde. Ogundipe argued that governors cannot, on one hand, comfortably exercise extensive executive authority over massive security spending, deploy billions of naira in security votes, procure sophisticated surveillance infrastructure, and fund local vigilante groups, only to turn around and claim their hands are completely tied the moment criminal elements launch attacks.

Describing the current security breakdown as a rapidly expanding regional emergency, Ogundipe disclosed that at the last count, over thirty children and other victims had been reportedly abducted in Oyo State under Governor Makinde’s watch. He revealed that the crisis has assumed a dangerous regional dimension, noting that neighbouring Ekiti State under Governor Biodun Oyebanji and Kwara State under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq have similarly recorded about fifteen abducted persons each floating in their respective forests.

According to the statement, it is highly insensitive for leaders entrusted with public authority to focus more on explaining their institutional limitations than demonstrating active solutions while innocent children and citizens are languishing in captivity. Ogundipe emphasized that the parents of these victims, who are mostly peasant farmers, artisans, and struggling traders, have absolutely no interest in legal technicalities, jurisdictional disputes, or constitutional interpretations, but are only desperate for the safe return of their loved ones.

The former AUJ boss also unmasked what he described as a troubling insincerity within Nigeria’s political leadership. He asserted that many state governors who currently complain about federal overreach failed to demonstrate the necessary urgency and commitment to drive meaningful structural reforms when national debates surrounding state police were at the forefront. He further slammed their stance on local government autonomy, arguing that it is hypocritical for governors to consistently demand the devolution of power from Abuja while fiercely resisting similar decentralization and autonomy within their own states.

Ogundipe urged the affected governors to halt the constitutional blame games immediately and instead maximize their available powers, resources, and influence to protect lives and property. Concluding his statement with a sharp reminder, he noted that history is always kinder to leaders who confront challenges with courage and tangible results than to those who merely explain why solutions are difficult, stressing that the lives of innocent citizens must never become casualties of political calculations.