Reps to Tinubu: Fix Nigeria’s insecurity or quit office

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has issued a scathing indictment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, warning that Nigeria is drifting towards a dangerous crossroads as insecurity, economic hardship and political tensions deepen ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers accused the government of prioritising re-election politics over governance, urging President Tinubu to suspend all 2027 political activities and focus squarely on addressing the country’s worsening security and economic challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the caucus at a press conference in Abuja, Minority Leader Fred Agbedi said Nigeria was facing an unprecedented crisis marked by rising insecurity, widespread poverty and growing public frustration.

The opposition lawmakers’ concerns came amid renewed attacks, kidnappings and mass abductions across several parts of the country, including Borno, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kwara and Oyo states.

Recent incidents involving the abduction of schoolchildren in Borno, Oyo and Kogi states have further heightened fears over the country’s security outlook.

Agbedi said, “When Tinubu said from Lagos that Jonathan should resign, what did you say? That is the duty and beauty of democracy. The beauty of democracy is that if you are unable to provide leadership for your nation and your government fails, both those in the minority and free citizens of the nation have the right to tell you to either perform or quit.

“Let me remind you that in the Eighth Assembly, of which I was a member, I rose on the floor of the House of Representatives during debate on a motion and stated that President Buhari’s government had failed. I went further to say that the lives of Nigerians were worth more than a one-minute silence.

“So, what are we saying today? You either provide leadership or you quit. Is his best good enough? If he (Tinubu) is unable to do so, then he should resign.

“For example, when Tinubu visited Plateau State to sympathise with victims of insecurity, what did the President say? He said the airport had no lights and that he would leave within 10 minutes. He did not even go beyond the airport to see the people.”

According to the caucus, governance has taken a back seat as political actors focus increasingly on preparations for the 2027 elections.

The lawmakers described the abduction and subsequent death of retired Major-General Abubakar Rabe as a grim reflection of the nation’s deteriorating security environment.

“If a General who once defended this country could be kidnapped and die in captivity, then no Nigerian can truly feel safe,” Agbedi said.

The caucus argued that the continued killings, kidnappings and displacement of citizens had severely eroded public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives and property.

It also raised concerns over what it described as attempts to weaken opposition parties through judicial actions ahead of the 2027 polls, warning against any move capable of undermining democratic competition and political pluralism.

The lawmakers insisted that national security and economic recovery should take precedence over electioneering, calling for urgent reforms of the country’s security architecture and stronger measures to rescue abducted victims and protect vulnerable communities.

The caucus further demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of General Rabe and urged authorities to intensify efforts to combat banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.

The lawmakers maintained that Nigeria’s immediate challenge is not politics but governance, stressing that millions of Nigerians are grappling with insecurity, inflation and declining living standards.

They warned that unless decisive action is taken to reverse the current trend, the country could face even greater political and social pressures as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

The caucus pledged to continue holding the government accountable through legislative means while urging the presidency to place the welfare and security of Nigerians above partisan political considerations.