The opposition lawmakers urged President Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to immediately articulate and implement a comprehensive security strategy capable of addressing the country’s complex and evolving threats
kaNo —
The minority caucus of the House of Representatives launched a critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on Wednesday, accusing it of failing to address Nigeria’s deepening insecurity, worsening economic hardship, and emerging threats to democratic institutions.
At a press briefing held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the Minority Leader, Mr. Fred Agbedi, stated that the country was currently undergoing one of its most challenging phases since the return to democratic governance in 1999.
“Nigeria is bleeding, Nigeria is confused, and Nigeria is being deliberately pushed to the brink by a government that has elevated 2027 electioneering above the lives and welfare of citizens,” he declared.
He explained that the caucus convened the press conference “with a heavy heart but with unshaken resolve to speak truth to power,” adding that silence in the face of mounting national challenges would amount to complicity.
According to the lawmakers, nearly three years into the Tinubu administration, Nigerians have yet to experience meaningful improvements in security or economic well-being, despite repeated assurances from government officials.
A major highlight of the briefing was the recent death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was reportedly abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State and later died in captivity.
The caucus described the incident as a tragic symbol of the country’s deteriorating security architecture.
“That a General of the Nigerian Army, who once commanded troops and defended this nation, could be kidnapped alongside his wife and later declared dead under unclear circumstances is a grave indictment of a failing state. It is a national embarrassment,” Agbedi said.
The lawmakers called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the retired officer’s death, stressing that Nigerians deserve clarity and accountability.
They noted that the incident occurred amid a surge in attacks by bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs across various parts of the country, particularly in the North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South-East.
According to the caucus, security personnel, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens have increasingly become targets of kidnappers and armed groups despite ongoing military operations.
“If a General is not safe within the borders of our nation, then who truly is?” Agbedi questioned
He further lamented what he described as the growing targeting of community leaders and traditional rulers, warning that such developments undermine grassroots governance and local stability.
“Our security is in the mud. Yet, the political class is busy rehearsing new political dance steps, seemingly unbothered,” he added.
The opposition lawmakers urged President Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to immediately articulate and implement a comprehensive security strategy capable of addressing the country’s complex and evolving threats.
They also called for improved welfare for security personnel, enhanced intelligence gathering mechanisms, and a complete overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.
“At a period in our nation’s long-drawn battle with these insurgents, victory was close by, especially with the presence of mercenaries on the frontlines. Today, no one is sure what the strategy, if any, is,” Agbedi stated.
In addition to concerns about insecurity, the caucus expressed alarm over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.
They described the situation as yet another example of the government’s inability to guarantee the safety of its citizens.
The lawmakers demanded an immediate and coordinated rescue operation by security agencies, warning that prolonged captivity exposes victims to grave risks.
They noted that the incident evokes painful memories of past mass abductions of students across the country, incidents that have repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of educational institutions despite government interventions such as the Safe Schools Initiative.
Beyond security challenges, the minority caucus also raised concerns about what it described as troubling developments within the judiciary, particularly a recent Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.
Agbedi argued that the ruling raises serious questions about the state of Nigeria’s democracy and could undermine political pluralism ahead of future elections.
“This judgment, coming only months before the country’s general elections and after a subsisting Court of Appeal decision on the same matter, is not intended to serve justice,” he said.
“Instead, it appears to be a deliberate ploy to engender judicial chaos, weaponised to destabilise the polity.”
The Bayelsa lawmaker described the judgment as “rascality taken too far,” warning that it sets a dangerous precedent that could weaken democratic participation and shrink political space in the country.
He questioned why submissions reportedly made by INEC, indicating that the affected parties had met legal requirements through electoral victories in previous polls, were allegedly ignored by the court.
The caucus further alleged that opposition parties have increasingly faced institutional barriers, including delays in the registration of new political parties and efforts to frustrate emerging political coalitions.
“From external manipulations and executive meddlesomeness that kept old political structures polarised, to attempts to truncate new alliances through institutional bottlenecks such as refusal to register new political parties, the goal has been to muscle all credible opposition out of the 2027 contest,” Agbedi alleged.
While welcoming the intervention of the Court of Appeal in halting the implementation of the Federal High Court judgment, the lawmakers urged Nigerians and democratic stakeholders to remain vigilant.
They stressed the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions and ensuring that the rule of law is upheld, especially as the country approaches another election cycle.
The opposition caucus concluded by calling for urgent and decisive action to address Nigeria’s security and economic challenges, warning that failure to act could have dire consequences for national stability and unity.
