By Muhammad Mamman
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigerians should feel no obligation to apologise for seeking international assistance to confront the country’s deepening insecurity, insisting that the scale of violence has left the nation with no choice.
Speaking at a public forum, Obasanjo warned that the country’s security crisis has become a national emergency “claiming lives every day,” cutting across religion, ethnicity and political affiliation. “When people are dying daily, we have no business pretending we can handle everything alone,” he said.
Obasanjo, a retired army general who led Nigeria both as military head of state and as a civilian president, criticised what he described as a culture of denial within sections of the political elite. “Seeking help is not surrender,” he said. “Nigeria must do whatever is necessary to protect its people.”
The former leader’s comments come as communities across northern, central and even southern Nigeria continue to face attacks from armed groups, bandits and insurgents. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly raised concerns about rising civilian casualties and mass displacement.
For many Nigerians, Obasanjo’s remarks echo growing frustration over the government’s inability to curb the violence. Rights groups and local analysts have long argued that stronger international partnerships — in intelligence, equipment, and technical support — could accelerate efforts to stabilise the country.
Obasanjo urged political leaders to put national security above pride. “Security is not about ego,” he said. “It’s about saving lives.”
His comments have reignited national debate on the extent to which Africa’s most populous country should rely on foreign support in combating its security threats.
As insecurity continues to disrupt daily life across large swathes of the country, Obasanjo’s message appears aimed at galvanising a shift in both political will and public discourse: that protecting citizens must take precedence over concerns about external perception.
