Retired Commodore Kunle Olawunmi, a former Deputy Director of Defence Administration at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and Professor of International Relations, has expressed deep concerns about the state of Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Olawunmi, who spent 35 years fighting for the country, described the current situation as "unbelievable," citing pervasive insecurity, a cost-of-living crisis, and governance failures. He attributed these issues to the presence of individuals in government with questionable characters.
Olawunmi emphasized that the country's problems run deep, with poverty being a major factor contributing to the involvement of young people in criminal activities. He expressed skepticism about the possibility of a better future for Nigeria, citing the failure of previous administrations to address these issues. However, he suggested that a genuine revolution could be a solution, allowing for the emergence of new leaders and a reset of the country's trajectory.
According to Olawunmi, a revolution would need to be spontaneous and not sponsored by politicians or external forces. He drew parallels with past revolutions, which often emerged from grassroots movements and led to the rise of new leaders. Olawunmi emphasized that such a revolution would require a fundamental transformation of the country's governance structure and the current constitution.
Olawunmi criticized the current constitution, arguing that it does not provide mechanisms for self-determination by the people. He suggested that changing the constitution would be challenging, given the dominance of certain groups in the National Assembly and the compromised nature of some governors. He cited the example of former President Goodluck Jonathan's Constitutional Conference, which failed to produce meaningful reforms.
The retired Commodore expressed disappointment with President Tinubu's administration, suggesting that it has had a negative impact on the Yoruba people. He argued that Tinubu's attitude in governance has destroyed the Yoruba race and that the Yoruba people are tired of being represented by leaders who do not reflect their values.
Olawunmi emphasized that the Yoruba people are seeking self-government and self-determination, but the current system makes it difficult to achieve. He suggested that a revolution or a fundamental transformation of the governance structure would be necessary to address these issues.
The interview with Olawunmi highlights the deep-seated concerns about Nigeria's governance failures and their impact on specific groups, such as the Yoruba people. His comments reflect a broader discontent with the current state of affairs in Nigeria and the need for a more fundamental transformation of the country's governance structure.
Key points
- Retired Commodore Kunle Olawunmi warns of Yoruba marginalization under President Bola Tinubu's administration.
- Olawunmi advocates for a genuine revolution to address Nigeria's governance failures.
- The current constitution does not provide mechanisms for self-determination by the people, according to Olawunmi.
