Former Nigerian Ambassador, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ,Chief Niyi Akintola; Otuba Segun Showunmi and other stakeholders, on Wednesday called for urgent restructuring of Nigeria’s governance architecture as a strategic response to worsening insecurity and growing strains on the country’s democratic system.

They made the call at a symposium organised by the National Association of Public Affairs Analysts (NAPAA), held at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, with the theme “Nigeria’s Current Challenges and the Way Out.”

The event brought together scholars, legal practitioners, political actors and public affairs analysts who examined the intersection of insecurity, governance failures and Nigeria’s democratic trajectory ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They argued that decentralising power and strengthening sub-national governance structures would enable more effective resource management, improved security coordination and better policy implementation.

The Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, described security as the most critical issue confronting Nigeria, insisting that it must be urgently addressed through fundamental restructuring of the state.

Farounbi, who described Nigeria as “a nation of paradox,” said the country’s abundant human and natural resources have not translated into meaningful development due to structural deficiencies, weak institutions and poor implementation of policies.

He argued that Nigeria’s challenges are not rooted in lack of knowledge or ideas, but in a persistent absence of discipline, accountability and effective institutional structures.

According to him, “Nigeria’s problem is not absence of solutions, but absence of structure and responsibility to implement those solutions.”

The former diplomat stressed that insecurity remains the clearest indicator of systemic failure, warning that no nation can make progress when its security architecture is weak and its institutions are fragmented.

Farounbi further called for collective national responsibility, stating that “the failure of Nigeria is the failure of its people,” and warning that no society can rise above the productivity, discipline and civic responsibility of its citizens.

He urged political leaders and citizens alike to embrace reforms that strengthen governance structures, improve accountability and restore public trust in state institutions.

In his contribution, Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, examined Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, noting that while the Fourth Republic has recorded uninterrupted electoral cycles since 1999, its democratic depth remains fragile.

Presenting a paper titled “Nigeria’s Fourth Republic at a Crossroads: Challenges and Prospects Ahead of the 2027 General Election,” Showunmi argued that Nigeria’s democracy is trapped between electoral continuity and genuine democratic consolidation.

He said that although elections have been consistently conducted, issues such as elite dominance, weak internal party democracy, economic hardship and declining voter confidence continue to undermine democratic legitimacy.

Showunmi noted that the build-up to the 2027 general elections represents a critical inflection point for Nigeria’s political system, warning that failure to address institutional weaknesses could deepen public distrust in democratic governance.

He called for urgent reforms in electoral administration, stronger political party structures and greater responsiveness from political elites to citizens’ needs.

Also speaking at the event, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, underscored the centrality of insecurity to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, describing it as a major impediment to national development.

Akintola noted that insecurity not only threatens lives and property but also undermines investment, disrupts agricultural production, weakens education systems and drains public resources.

He warned that no meaningful economic progress can be achieved in an environment where citizens live in fear and where institutions are unable to guarantee safety and stability.

According to him, Nigeria’s development prospects remain severely constrained by persistent insecurity, rising poverty and institutional weaknesses that require urgent policy attention.

Akintola called for stronger legal and institutional frameworks to enhance security operations, improve justice delivery and ensure accountability within the system.

He also advocated for increased investment in youth empowerment and economic opportunities as a long-term strategy for addressing the root causes of insecurity.