Nigeria in state of emergency, war, Anya warns

Eminent scholar, Prof Anya Anya, has said Nigeria is in a state of war and emergency situation, stressing the urgent need to empower a new generation of leaders.

He identified security, economic, social and leadership lapses as some of the challenges confronting the nation and hindering its quest for development and integration.

Anya, who was guest lecturer at the 21st Mike Okonkwo yearly lecture and presentation of prizes to deserving students, said as part of measures to address the security situation, there was need to mobilise retired military and para-military personnel to tap from their expertise and experiences.

In his lecture titled: ‘Nigeria: A country at war against itself, problems, solutions and way forward,’ to commemorate the 77th birthday of Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo, in Lagos, Anya lamented that since the emergence of the Boko Haram sect, the nation’s security agencies appeared to have lost control of Nigerian territory.

“It is time to face the fact that we have a war on our hands. The situation is definitely beyond the level of police action, additionally, our military needs to be retrained to upscale their capacity for asymmetric warfare,” he said.

The former president of Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) also advocated implementation of the 2014 National Conference report to create an environment for enduring social and political harmony.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Matters, Bayo Osiyemi, said leaders and followers must work together for peace and progress of the nation, while appealing to religious organisations not to relent in their prayers for the country.

An elated Bishop Okonkwo said regardless of the situation in the country at the moment, Nigerians should not give up hope.