Chief Guy Ikokwu, a Second Republic politician and lawyer, has voiced his dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s current development path, calling for immediate action to prevent the country from sliding into what he termed an “irreversible decline” that could lead to disintegration. He emphasized that with proper governance, education, and the use of technology, Nigeria could experience economic growth of 6-7% annually, despite still being in recession. In an interview with Vanguard, Ikokwu also criticized the existence of a full-time legislature and the large severance packages given to outgoing National Assembly members.

Addressing the increasing violence in the country, Ikokwu described the situation as alarming, stating that Nigeria now witnesses more killings than several other African and foreign countries, even those experiencing insurgencies or wars. He pointed to the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East and the insecurity in states like Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, and Taraba. He also mentioned that kidnappings have made the roads unsafe, with criminals, including some herdsmen, using sophisticated technology to abduct people for ransom.

Ikokwu stressed that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. He argued that when this protection fails, the government has lost its core duty. Regarding the suggestion by the Senate for state policing, Ikokwu believes the issue lies not with the Senate but with the need for good leadership. He insisted that strong leadership is key to solving the country’s problems, as it sets the tone for others to follow.