Activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said he would appoint a drone as Nigeria’s minister of defence if he becomes president, insisting that technology remains the key to tackling insecurity in the country.
Sowore made the remark during a live interview on Arise TV on Thursday, where he outlined his security strategy and criticised the current handling of the nation’s defence system.
“If I become Nigeria’s president tomorrow, my minister of defence will be a drone. That’s how much I believe in technology.”
The AAC presidential candidate said Nigeria’s worsening security situation could only be addressed through modern technology, proper equipment and responsible leadership within the armed forces.
According to him, the military needs commanders who are committed to fighting insecurity instead of remaining in Abuja.
“We have to have honest leaders and supervisors and officers who are not staying in Abuja fighting over land but actually fighting wars, generals who can actually strategise and do what is right,” he said.
Sowore also said the police should concentrate on maintaining internal security rather than carrying out duties outside their primary responsibilities.
“A police force that can carry out internal security of the country, not escorting people or arresting people for insulting others on Facebook,” he said.
He further explained that his proposed security structure would rely heavily on drones and artificial intelligence to monitor and eliminate threats across the country.
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“I’m just going to have a control centre where people sit down and track terrorists and liquidate them,” he said.
Responding to a suggestion by the interviewer that artificial intelligence could also serve as defence minister, Sowore said it would form part of the strategy.
“That’s part of it. And that drone will fly everywhere.”
Despite his emphasis on technology, Sowore maintained that solving insecurity also requires improving the living conditions of citizens, especially young people vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.
“Ultimately, you must create a society where people can find jobs and go to school, and not be willing to take up arms.”
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