The 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV), has suggested that the government consider licensing firearms if it cannot ensure citizens’ safety.
Rhodes-Vivour, who has defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated this in light of the recent abductions and rising insecurity in the country.
“This is not just about the north. We have seen abductions in Kwara and Ogun States over the weekend. Destruction of institutions and the loss of public trust make people lose hope in government.
“I’m talking about this situation now because of the failure of the government that we found ourselves in, and in this failure, if the government cannot sit up, then they should start considering licensing firearms,” he said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.
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GRV stated that repeated government failures could push citizens to defend themselves and warned that short-term government actions will not stop people from seeking long-term self-protection.
“If people do not believe the judiciary will deliver justice, or that the police will protect lives, they must act. If the military leaves and terrorists immediately kidnap and kill, people will have to defend themselves,” he said.
GRV described asking citizens to remain helpless as “wickedness” when governments fail to protect them.
He urged the government to honour its obligations, asking, “How many people must die before action becomes reality?”
“If I were in government, I would focus on protecting lives, not only the next election,” he stressed.
‘No Value To Human Life’
Rhodes-Vivour added, however, that public trust in government is low, casting doubt on any firearm-licensing initiative.
“The way they manage security leaves room for doubt, conspiracy, and a credibility crisis,” GRV said.
He criticised political priorities, claiming, “The government is obsessed with electioneering, not making lives of Nigerians better.”
GRV also rejected ongoing talks with terrorists, calling the strategy “unsustainable” and “not a good approach.”
He lamented President Bola Tinubu’s response to insecurity, stating, the government has “not valued human life” enough in the country.
The rising insecurity has prompted debates on self-protection in communities, especially where security agencies are overwhelmed.
In April, retired General T.Y. Danjuma urged citizens to defend themselves if the state cannot guarantee safety.
The DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has supported a regulated approach, suggesting licensed vigilantes with controlled access to weapons.
Some groups, including the Arewa Grassroots Leaders Assembly, have called for legalising AK-47s for rural self-defence.
However, Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi warned that such measures could trigger anarchy and escalate violence.
Recent discussions and social media have come in numbers, reflecting self-defence and public fears.
Currently, Nigerian law prohibits civilian possession of automatic weapons like AK-47s.
The 1959 Firearms Act allows licences only for certain non-assault firearms, such as pump-action rifles, under strict regulation.
