Former Edo State governorship aspirant, Kenneth Imasuagbon, has decried the deteriorating state of security and the economy in Nigeria, warning that the nation is losing global respect and becoming a mockery on the international stage.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Benin City, Imasuagbon said Nigeria’s inability to tackle insecurity and stabilize its economy has become a national embarrassment.
“The world is laughing at us and we are losing global respect. Foreign news headlines mock our pains. We are now seen as a country of chaos, a land where life has little value,” he stated.
He warned that the worsening insecurity is scaring away investors, exacerbating the unemployment crisis and deepening poverty. “This crisis is driving investors away. People don’t put money where they can be killed. The result is joblessness, poverty, and economic collapse. Every gunshot fired by a bandit kills not just a person but also a business idea,” Imasuagbon added.
Expressing frustration, the educationist lamented the country's declining state, saying that at his age, he should be focusing on building legacies, but the system has made that nearly impossible.
“At 59, I should be talking about building legacies. But how can we build when nothing is working? Roads are unsafe, schools are closing down, and farmers are scared to go to their fields. What kind of country is this?” he asked.
He called on the government to take urgent and meaningful action to address the crisis, urging President Bola Tinubu to rise to the occasion.
“We need leaders who care, not ones who give excuses, not leaders who are only concerned about elections. Nigerians are dying, businesses are collapsing, hope is dying. President Tinubu must wake up. This is not what we voted for,” he said.
Imasuagbon also encouraged citizens to remain united and demand accountability from their leaders.
“Citizens must remain united and demand accountability. We must not allow silence to destroy us. If leaders fail, the people must rise. This is our country. We must fight to make it better,” he concluded.
ADEOLA KUNLE
