Former Presidential aspirant calls for Military Overhaul

In a bold statement on the future of Nigeria’s democracy, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has stressed the urgent need to rebuild Nigeria’s military institutions to tackle insecurity and protect democratic values.

Speaking at the launch of Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs in Abuja, Adebayo linked the country’s persistent security challenges to institutional decay and indiscipline among those tasked with governing.

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“We must encourage the rebuilding of four institutions immediately,” Adebayo declared. “We need to rebuild our military, civil service, justice system, and industrial sector.”

The former candidate highlighted the military’s historical contributions to Nigeria’s development, from securing national unity to key infrastructure projects like the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“Some of the best brains in the country were officers, well-trained as both military personnel and professionals, like Retired Colonel Bello-Fadile,” Adebayo said.

Amid rising challenges of national identity and unity, Adebayo underscored the military’s indispensable role: “The military is the one keeping these two. So it is important we know that we cannot do without the military as a country.”

Adebayo argued that fixing Nigeria’s democratic and security woes requires more than lip service. It demands a generation of individuals dedicated to institutional reform, much like the legacy of Retired Colonel Bello-Fadile, whose memoirs were being celebrated.

The event, chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, was a powerhouse gathering of national figures, including General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd.), former Senate President David Mark, and legal luminaries like Ahmed Raji SAN. Their presence underscored the weight of Adebayo’s call for institutional renewal.