Dr. Zainab Buhari Calls for National Unity, Dialogue, Urgent Action on Insecurity
A Nigerian public affairs commentator and poet, Dr. Zainab Suleiman Buhari, has called for deeper national reflection on insecurity, inter-ethnic relations, and recurring cycles of violence across the country, urging leaders and citizens to prioritise dialogue, justice, and reconciliation over division and conflict.
Dr. Buhari, a former Africa Representative of Generation Democracy at the International Republican Institute (IRI) in 2023, also identifies as a poet, medical doctor.
In a lengthy public commentary, she expressed concern over what she described as persistent insecurity linked to banditry, terrorism, farmer–herder clashes, and communal violence, noting that these challenges have continued to affect multiple regions of Nigeria over the years.
She argued that the impact of violence has been widespread, affecting communities across the North Central, North West, North East, South West, South East, and South-South, with consequences including loss of lives, displacement, destruction of farmlands, and disruption of education and livelihoods.
Dr. Buhari also emphasised that Nigeria’s current security challenges reflect long-standing historical tensions that, in her view, have not been fully resolved. She stressed the importance of addressing grievances through lawful and peaceful means rather than cycles of retaliation.
She further raised concerns about recurring communal clashes and extremist violence, stating that innocent civilians often bear the greatest burden of conflicts they did not create. According to her, such trends continue to deepen mistrust among communities and weaken national unity.
On separatist-related tensions and civil unrest in parts of the country, she warned that prolonged conflict and disruptive directives have had negative humanitarian and economic consequences for local populations, particularly in affected communities.
Dr. Buhari also questioned the effectiveness of current governance responses to insecurity and urged stronger political will to resolve underlying issues. She maintained that sustainable peace would require fairness, inclusive governance, and protection of all citizens regardless of ethnicity or religion.
She concluded by calling for a national commitment to peacebuilding, dialogue, and justice, stressing that Nigeria must break away from cycles of violence and prioritise unity and development.
“Dialogue over bullets, justice over revenge, and love over hate,” she said, urging leaders and citizens to work collectively toward lasting peace.
Dr. Zainab Buhari Calls for National Unity, Dialogue, Urgent Action on Insecurity