For Buhari’s successor, Baba-Ahmed recognizes the “true difficulty.”

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Northern Elders Forum’s (NEF) national director of publicity and advocacy, stated on Wednesday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor will have a lot of work to do to re-secure Nigeria as the 2023 presidential election draws near.

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The elder statesman reportedly remarked that pulling the country back from the edge will be a huge responsibility for the following administration in his weekly piece, according to POLITICS NIGERIA.

“Obviously, the country cannot regain lost ground in securing its citizens with the resources at its disposal.

“It has to make massive improvements in its defence and security assets,” Baba-Ahmed wrote.

“There is also the problem that some of the threats to our security will be difficult to address.”

“Boko Haram and ISWAP have dug into enclaves around communities, and ‘peace’ will mean little to them.” What can we offer? Should you speak with Nnamdi Kanu, other factions, and “muscles and guns” that are factions of IPOB about the Biafran cause? What can you offer them to walk away and sin no more? Will the identity of the next president make a difference to the disposition of those championing secessionist ideas?

“How do you sit with dozens of bandit leaders and convince them that there is a better life outside the forests and crimes?” How do you reward those who negotiate and submit to peace against those who insist on making our lives more insecure?

“The real challenge is whether the next president can re-secure Nigerians using strategies, resources, experiences, and insights that will reduce our exposure to organized violence within the practicable shortage period.”