A prominent Nigerian socio-political group, The Patriots, has warned that worsening insecurity, rising poverty, and deepening governance failures are pushing Nigeria toward a national crisis that threatens the country’s survival.
The group, led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, raised the alarm in a communiqué issued after its meeting in Lagos on Thursday, urging the Federal Government to urgently treat insecurity as a national emergency affecting governance, economic stability, and public safety.
In the communiqué signed by Anyaoku and the group’s secretary-general, Olawale Okunniyi, The Patriots said Nigeria was experiencing an alarming wave of killings, kidnappings, banditry, and displacement of communities across several parts of the country.
The group identified the North East, North West, North Central, and increasingly the South West as regions severely affected by insecurity, noting that thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to face humanitarian hardship while many farmers can no longer access their farmlands.
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According to the group, the deteriorating security situation poses a direct threat to national food production and economic stability.
“The federal government should now treat insecurity as a national protection, governance and economic survival crisis deserving the setting up of a special committee to advise it on measures to be taken to deal with the different ramifications of the crisis,” the communiqué stated.
The Patriots acknowledged ongoing economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration but argued that the hardship experienced by ordinary Nigerians, especially in rural communities, remains severe.
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the group said about 63 per cent of Nigerians are currently living in multidimensional poverty, a situation it described as unacceptable for Africa’s largest economy.
The group also renewed its longstanding demand for the restructuring of Nigeria through the adoption of a new democratic constitution drafted by representatives elected by Nigerians on a non-party basis.
According to The Patriots, the current 1999 Constitution, introduced during military rule, has failed to address the country’s complex political, economic, and social challenges.
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Referencing the national summit it convened in Abuja in July 2025, the group said delegates from the six geopolitical zones, including women, youths, and socio-cultural organisations, overwhelmingly supported the call for a people-driven constitution.
On the 2027 general elections, The Patriots expressed concern over the declining ideological foundation of political parties, blaming frequent defections by elected officials for weakening public trust in the democratic process.
The group urged political parties to focus on issue-based campaigns rather than personal attacks and political hostility, while calling on Nigerians to support candidates committed to restructuring the nation’s governance system.
It also warned that the international community would closely monitor the conduct of the 2027 elections, urging the Federal Government, the Independent National Electoral Commission, state governments, and other stakeholders to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.
The Patriots further criticised the growing influence of money politics in Nigeria, warning that the rising financial cost of elections is shutting out competent and credible citizens from public office.
“The Patriots therefore called on political parties to be more value-driven rather than engage in money politics to the detriment of democracy in Nigeria,” the communiqué added.
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