Okada: Nigeria’s biggest security challenge is not the widely perceived threats of terrorism, banditry, or kidnapping, but rather the gradual erosion of public trust in the government’s ability to protect its citizens, according to legal practitioner and former presidential aide Mr. Kingsley Kuku. Kuku made this assertion while delivering a valedictory lecture titled ‘The Nigerian State Under Siege: Constitutionalism and the Imperative for National Renewal’ at the valedictory service for the 2026 graduating students of the Oba Erediauwa College of Law, Igbinedion University.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kuku argued that the country’s worsening insecurity is a reflection of a deeper constitutional crisis where many Nigerians have lost confidence in government institutions responsible for safeguarding lives and property. He emphasized that the real danger lies in the widening trust deficit between citizens and the government, warning that constitutional democracy becomes fragile when people no longer believe that lawful institutions can protect them.
Kuku highlighted that the increasing reliance on vigilante groups and regional security outfits instead of constitutionally established security agencies underscores the severity of the challenge. He pointed out that while community-based security initiatives have contributed to local safety, their emergence also reflects the public perception that existing institutions are not adequately meeting citizens’ security needs.
The former chairman of the presidential amnesty programme stressed that the solution to Nigeria’s security challenges lies in rebuilding public confidence through stronger institutions, accountable governance, an independent judiciary, and adherence to the rule of law. He advocated for institutional reforms, including stronger policing, improved judicial independence, professionalism among security agencies, and constitutional restructuring through democratic consensus.
Addressing the graduating law students, Kuku urged them to uphold integrity above personal advancement, describing the legal profession as a public trust rather than merely a career. He warned the new graduates against sacrificing principle for convenience, urging them to defend the rule of law even when doing so is unpopular.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, charged the graduating students to make integrity their guiding principle throughout their legal careers. He reminded the graduates that the legal profession is a privilege that demands diligence, ethical conduct, and service to society, while encouraging them to embrace innovation, including digital legal technologies.
The Dean of the Oba Erediauwa College of Law, Prof. Nat Ofo, urged the graduating students to uphold the institution’s core values of ‘character and learning’ as they prepare to enter the legal profession. He also commended parents, university management, and members of the faculty for their support in producing the graduating class, expressing confidence that the graduates have been adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.