Insecurity: Unilorin V-C calls for unity to fight criminalities

The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Prof. Wahab Egbewole, has called on Nigerians to unite, rally together and confront criminals to end insecurity in the country.

The vice-chancellor made the call during a media chat to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the institution at the University Auditorium on Tuesday.

He said “if there is a time for Nigerians to rally together and confront criminals and humans creating problem among us, it is now.

“It is time Nigerians put ethnic, religious and political differences aside to save the country from recurrent violence.

He quoted former Senate President, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, to have once said “your exposure is useless if you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments; you are a liability to mankind.

“If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education is useless.

“As Nigerians, we need not be liabilities to Nigeria. All hands must be on deck to ensure the success of the Nigerian project.”

Egbewole called on Nigerians to say an unequivocal no to all forms of extremism across religious, ethnic and political frontlines.

He said that partnership with world powers was welcome in defeating the monsters of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.

“I urge the American government to assist the Nigerian government with technology and equipment, both software and hardware, to defeat the monsters that make our lives ‘nasty, brutish and short’.

“Anything other than that could create ‘The Cobra Effect’, which should be avoided. The cobra effect, for the benefit of hindsight, illustrates how well-meaning actions can backfire, often worsening the original problem”, he added.