El-Rufai alleges Nigeria’s security focus has shifted from citizens to power holders

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised alarm over what he described as a dangerous distortion of Nigeria’s national security system, warning that it is increasingly being used to defend political power rather than protect the lives and rights of citizens.

El-Rufai shared the concerns in a detailed statement published on his Facebook page on Sunday under the title, “National Security, Justice, and the People’s Wellbeing: Reclaiming the Purpose of Power.”

In the statement, he insisted that the sole purpose of national security should be to ensure that Nigerians “live long, live well, and live in peace,” arguing that genuine security cannot be separated from justice or the overall wellbeing of the population.

Referencing Nigeria’s National Security Strategy (2019), El-Rufai noted that security forms the foundation of development and social progress. He added that a country cannot claim to be secure if its citizens live in fear, or if state institutions are heavily armed but internally weakened.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 26 years of democratic rule, the former governor said the country has gradually witnessed the transformation of national security into what he termed “regime security.” According to him, this shift has seen state institutions allegedly redirected toward protecting those in power, silencing dissent, and insulating poor leadership from accountability.

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“There is a profound difference between protecting the country and protecting a regime,” he said, emphasising that while governments are temporary, the state and its institutions are permanent and must serve every citizen, regardless of who is in office.

El-Rufai further observed that security agencies and elements of the criminal justice system are now widely viewed as instruments used selectively against political opponents and critics, instead of being deployed against criminals, terrorists, and bandits who pose real threats to public safety.

He warned that this approach steadily destroys public confidence in security institutions, weakens professionalism, and personalises state power, leading to declining discipline, morale, and operational effectiveness.

“When citizens no longer trust the police and intelligence services, cooperation collapses, intelligence dries up, and criminal networks thrive,” he said.

The former governor also highlighted the wider implications of prioritising regime protection over national security, listing worsening insecurity, heightened political tensions, reduced investor confidence, and serious risks to democratic stability.

He cautioned that countries where security agencies serve those in power rather than the Constitution may continue to conduct elections, but no longer function as genuine democracies in practice.

Calling for a fundamental reset, El-Rufai advocated a return to a people-focused security framework grounded in constitutional loyalty, justice, and shared national values. He said such a system must ensure constitutional allegiance by security agencies, impartial enforcement of justice, recognition of opposition as a legitimate democratic force, and the wellbeing of citizens as the ultimate benchmark of security success.

“National security does not belong to the President or the temporary occupants of power,” he said. “It belongs to the Nigerian people.”

He concluded by warning that Nigeria would continue to struggle with peace, stability, and public trust until security institutions fully reclaim their role as defenders of the state and servants of the Constitution.

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