By Isaac Mission
The Federal Government lacks the political will required to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, according to the President of the South-East South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN), Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN.
Uwaifo said the security situation, economic hardship and poor governance should dominate discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with The Sun, the legal practitioner urged presidential candidates to move beyond campaign rhetoric and present Nigerians with clear and practical solutions to the country’s major challenges.
He identified insecurity, economic recovery, transparency and effective governance as some of the critical issues that should form the basis of the 2027 campaigns.
Uwaifo expressed concern over the level of kidnappings and killings across the country, arguing that the government had not done enough to reverse the situation.
He attributed the persistence of insecurity largely to what he described as a lack of political will rather than a shortage of security personnel or resources.
According to him, excessive politicking has also affected the country’s economic, political and social development.
2027 Elections
On the forthcoming elections, Uwaifo criticised what he described as growing political instability and disputes within opposition parties.
He alleged that political parties had been weakened by internal crises and legal battles, leaving uncertainty over their ability to participate effectively in the 2027 elections.
He also expressed concern about the role of the courts in determining issues relating to the existence of political parties, their leadership and candidates.
Uwaifo, however, described the processes that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi as the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as largely fair and transparent, based on his knowledge of the processes.
Calls for Transparency
The senior lawyer also defended Atiku’s efforts to obtain information relating to a long-standing FBI matter involving President Bola Tinubu.
Uwaifo argued that there was nothing wrong with seeking the release of information through lawful means, saying greater transparency would ultimately benefit the country and could help resolve lingering questions surrounding the matter.
He maintained that if the documents cleared Tinubu, they would equally help put the controversy to rest.
Uwaifo also addressed questions surrounding his law firm’s petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concerning Atiku.
He explained that his firm was acting on instructions from a client and was simply asking the anti-graft agency to examine the issues raised. He stressed that the petition did not amount to a declaration of Atiku’s guilt or innocence.
Criticism of Major Road Projects
Uwaifo further criticised the Federal Government’s approach to infrastructure development, particularly its decision to pursue major new road projects while several existing highways remain in poor condition.
He questioned the priority given to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the proposed Badagry-Sokoto highway when motorists continue to face severe difficulties on major routes across the country.
The legal practitioner described the projects as politically motivated and argued that greater attention should first be given to repairing existing roads and bridges.
He cited the condition of the Sagamu-Benin highway and other major routes as examples of infrastructure challenges requiring urgent government intervention.
Uwaifo said the deteriorating condition of roads, coupled with insecurity along some routes, has made interstate travel increasingly difficult for Nigerians.
He urged political leaders seeking office in 2027 to focus on practical solutions capable of improving security, rebuilding the economy, strengthening democratic institutions and restoring public confidence in government.