According to a report by Channels Television, on Thursday, March 5, 2026, the discourse surrounding Nigeria’s national stability has taken a historical turn as prominent political analyst Reno Omokri offered a retrospective evaluation of the country’s security landscape.
During a broadcast appearance, Omokri suggested that any objective assessment of the current administration’s performance must be rooted in an understanding of the conditions that existed a decade prior.
He posited that the narrative of a deteriorating security environment often overlooks the widespread volatility that characterised multiple regions during that earlier era.
In a particularly striking summary of the national atmosphere at the time, Omokri said, “In this country, The only geopolitical zone that was relatively peaceful 10 years ago was the southwest.”
This observation served as the cornerstone of his argument that modern challenges, while significant, are part of a long-standing struggle rather than a sudden decline under the present leadership.
Expanding on this perspective, Omokri detailed the multifaceted crises that previously gripped the nation.
He highlighted how the Niger Delta was once synonymous with militant disruptions that threatened the economic backbone of the country, while the South-East saw a resurgence of separatist agitations that frequently led to civil unrest.
Turning his attention to the northern territories, he reminded the audience of the sheer scale of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, which was coupled with burgeoning instances of banditry across the North-West and North-Central regions.
By painting this picture of the past, he sought to illustrate that the geographical spread of insecurity was arguably more pervasive a decade ago than many critics currently acknowledge.
A critical point in Omokri’s analysis was the physical loss of sovereignty that occurred during that period.
He recalled a time when several local government areas within the North-East were effectively governed by insurgents who held significant portions of Nigerian soil.
He further noted that the vulnerability of major transit routes and the audacity of attacks on high-profile security installations were much more frequent in that era.
While he did not dismiss the current security hurdles facing the nation, he argued that the total territorial control once exercised by non-state actors has been largely dismantled.
The fact that insurgents no longer maintain such overt administrative control over local governments represents a tangible shift in the security dynamic that should not be ignored.
Furthermore, Omokri addressed the public frustration regarding the pace of change, explaining that comprehensive security reforms are complex and rarely yield immediate transformations.
He urged citizens and political detractors alike to base their critiques on verifiable data and historical records rather than emotional reactions to contemporary headlines.
He suggested that while the administration of President Bola Tinubu is navigating intense scrutiny over the economy and public safety, the progress being made is part of a gradual recovery process.
By contrasting the current state of highway safety and territorial integrity with the conditions of ten years ago, he maintained that the trajectory of the country is more nuanced than the opposition suggests.
The commentator’s remarks emphasise the deep divide in public perception regarding the government’s efficacy.
While opposition leaders frequently point to rising inflation and localised security breaches as signs of failure, supporters view these as the lingering symptoms of a deeply rooted systemic crisis that is slowly being addressed.
The ongoing debate highlights that security remains the most vital metric by which the Nigerian public judges its leadership.
Omokri’s contribution to this dialogue serves as a reminder that understanding the present requires a clear-eyed and honest examination of the historical difficulties that once threatened the very fabric of the federation.