What concrete reforms will you pursue to ensure institutional independence and restore trust in state transparency?

Recent developments in the country has seen a growing tendency of state governments exerting influence in distorting the modalities of enthroning traditional stools. It is a reality that stares us in the face from every corner of the country. While it is understandable that the institutions of traditional rulership is in the exclusive purview of the state government, although through the local government authorities, it must be established that traditional institutions constitute a component of our governance structure. And thus, traditional institutions must be protected from the arbitrariness of state governments that threaten their stability. When the structure of ascension of traditional rulers is unstable, it will become equally difficult to maintain peace and orderliness in communities. Although our constitution, in its current format, does not ascribe any recognition to traditional institutions, yet our experiences show clearly that they perform enormous roles in the economic life of their domains, as well as maintenance of peace and security in communities.

I have followed the intense public discourse on the Tax Reform Bills with keen interest. Nigerians are united in their call for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity. They are loud and clear that the fiscal system we seek to promote must not exacerbate the uneven development of the federating units by enhancing the status of a few states while unduly penalising others. I call for objectivity and transparency in the conduct of the public hearing being organised by our representatives in the National Assembly. As a concerned stakeholder, I firmly believe that transparency and objectivity are essential for promoting accountability, good governance, and public trust in policy-making. The public hearing process must facilitate open and inclusive participation by all stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations, traditional institutions, politicians, public officials, and subject matter experts.

The Constitutional Violations 1.Illegal Removal of a Governor and State Assembly The Nigerian Constitution does not empower the President to remove an elected Governor, Deputy Governor, or State Assembly under any circumstances. The procedure for removing a Governor is clearly outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) through an impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly—not by presidential proclamation. 2.Misuse of Section 305 on State of Emergency Section 305 of the Constitution allows the President to declare a State of Emergency only in extreme cases where public safety, national security, or Nigeria’s sovereignty is at serious risk. However, it does not grant him the power to suspend elected officials or to demolish democratic structures as is currently being attempted. Furthermore, Section 305(1) states that any proclamation of emergency is subject to the provisions of the Constitution—meaning it cannot override the tenure and removal procedures of a Governor.

Condemnation after the fact is not enough. What is needed are proactive, preventive actions. As long as these criminals face no real consequences, they will continue to return to inflict more pain on innocent people. I urge the National Assembly to urgently pass legislation that allows state governments to properly arm and equip their security outfits with modern weapons. This will strengthen our overall security architecture and help relieve the overstretched federal security agencies. At the same time, I must call on community members to reject collaboration with armed groups and instead support our security forces by sharing intelligence. Security is a shared responsibility. I commend the courage and sacrifices of our security forces. Their efforts remain invaluable, but they need the full support of the people and a government that prioritizes security, not just with words but with decisive action.

Never in our recent history have we seen an administration so openly dismissive of public sentiment, so casual in breaking laws, and so reckless with democratic norms. A government capable of forging or tampering with laws cannot be trusted to conduct free and fair elections in 2027. Still, we must not surrender to despair. These hardships must become the fuel for national awakening. Democracy gives the people the power to change a failing government, peacefully and decisively, through the ballot. Do not allow religion or ethnicity to divide you. Division only serves those who benefit from your suffering. Unity is the path to rescue. The so-called anti-corruption crusade of this government is a facade; selective, vindictive, and politically motivated. It has become a tool for persecuting opposition figures rather than cleansing the system. Fighting corruption is essential, but when agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are weaponized against opponents while allies enjoy immunity, justice is mocked. Institutions must act without fear or favour.

Details: Create dedicated courts with trained judges and strict timelines for handling terrorism and high-impact economic crimes 5. Reform National Security Architecture and Intelligence Coordination We will build a modern, coordinated, and intelligence-driven security system that is institutional, technology-enabled, and no longer dependent on personalities or fragmented structures. Details: ● Establish a statutory, rule-based national intelligence coordination system as the backbone of Nigeria's security architecture ● Reform the National Security Council, NSC, Act to create an Office of the Coordinator of National Intelligence, CNI, to serve as the NSC secretariat and lead intelligence coordination across all agencies ● Empower the CNI to integrate intelligence gathering, analysis, and response across military, security, and paramilitary institutions ● Institutionalize a Joint Terrorism Task Force bringing together security agencies, paramilitary, and the military under a unified coordination framework ● Deploy technology-driven systems for real-time intelligence sharing, early warning signals, and coordinated response ● Eliminate institutional rivalry and intelligence silos that weaken national security outcomes