FG Should Allow Nigerians Defend Themselves if It Can’t Guarantee Security — Rhodes-Vivour
Former Labour Party governorship candidate for Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has called on the Federal Government to consider granting firearm licences to Nigerians if it cannot ensure their safety.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Rhodes-Vivour said recent kidnappings in Kwara, Ogun, and other parts of the country show that insecurity is worsening despite government assurances.
According to him, the collapse of critical institutions and diminishing trust in public officeholders have left many Nigerians hopeless.
“This is not just about the North. Over the weekend, there were abductions in Kwara and Ogun. The destruction of institutions and the loss of public trust make people lose faith in government,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour argued that when citizens no longer believe that the judiciary can deliver justice or that security agencies can protect them, the next option is self-defense.
He warned that communities may be forced to take charge of their own security if government continues to fail in its responsibility.
“If the military withdraws and terrorists immediately kidnap and kill, people will have to defend themselves. At some point, citizens will have to take a stand,” he added.
The LP chieftain emphasized that governance operates on a social contract where people give up certain rights in return for protection, justice, and essential services.
But he said Nigerians have repeatedly been compelled to solve problems that government failed to address.
“People didn’t wait for government to provide electricity; they bought generators. They didn’t wait for water; they dug boreholes. If the authorities cannot guarantee safety, they should consider licensing firearms,” he said.
Reacting to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks that he might intervene in Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” against Islamic terrorists, Rhodes-Vivour said it highlights the Nigerian government’s inability to protect its citizens.
He urged the Federal Government to take decisive action by improving intelligence gathering, empowering soldiers, ensuring accountability in the military, and cutting off financial networks fueling terrorism.
“It is shameful that a great nation like Nigeria must rely on outsiders to come and save us,” he stated.
