Eshiorameh Sebastian
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to relentlessly pursue those threatening the nation’s peace, stating the government is “fully mobilised to hunt the enemies of state wherever they may be.”
The President’s strong words were delivered on Sunday in Lokoja during a memorial honouring the late former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu.
Represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, President Tinubu reaffirmed that restoring peace and strengthening national security remain the top priorities of his government.
“Let me be unequivocal: the security and welfare of every Nigerian remain the sacred priority of my government. We have therefore taken decisive action,” the President stated.
He explicitly framed the recently declared State of Emergency on national security as a direct “declaration of war against all forms of insecurity.” As part of this new offensive, the administration has immediately begun a process to expand the capacity of the armed forces and security agencies in numbers, advanced weaponry, and intelligence capabilities.
Beyond immediate action, the President championed a strategic reform of the country’s security architecture: the establishment of State Police. He described this as a “courageous” and “necessary constitutional step” that would provide a community-sensitive solution to local threats, complement national forces, and boost grassroots employment.
The government is also intensifying its international diplomacy to correct false narratives that misrepresent Nigeria’s renowned religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, he added.
President Tinubu also used the occasion to pay a powerful tribute to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, whom he described as a “giant” and a “pathfinder” in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
He credited Audu, the first democratically elected Governor of Kogi State, as a formidable ally and founding father who helped lay the foundation for the nation’s enduring democracy.
“The legacy of development Prince Audu began in Kogi is a model we are determined to replicate and scale across the nation,” Tinubu said, linking the honoree’s legacy to his administration’s own goals.
Outlining this vision, the President highlighted ongoing economic reforms, including a comprehensive initiative to modernize the livestock industry. The goal, he said, is to transform a critical sector historically marked by tension into a “bastion of prosperity,” ensuring food security and fostering lasting peace between farming and herding communities.
Furthermore, he pointed to the expansion of Social Investment Programmes and an unprecedented national infrastructure drive—modernizing road, rail, and power networks—as evidence of his government’s commitment to building a more united and prosperous Nigeria for all.
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