From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of being insensitive to the country’s security crisis.
In a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC claimed President Tinubu is prioritising political appearances over his sacred duty of protecting the lives of Nigerians.
The opposition party stated that while rural communities are being deserted and schools shut as a result of insecurity, President Tinubu has continued to attend funerals and ceremonies of his political associates. It noted that this sends a message that the president cares more about political appearances than the lives of Nigerian citizens.
“As the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in whom the constitutional authority to secure the lives and property of citizens is vested, the President’s continued preference for attending social and political events in the midst of alarming deterioration of internal security is both unacceptable and irresponsible.
“Just today (Sunday), the newspapers are reporting that nine local government areas in Kwara State, a state that had until this APC-led administration enjoyed a reputation for peace and stability, reportedly came under siege by armed bandits.
“In a development that underscores the extent of state fragility, residents are now being forced to provide food items, drinks, money, and other services as ransom payments. This is a complete failure of governance.
“Yet, the presidency has neither acknowledged the situation nor outlined any plan of action to support the affected communities or hold those responsible to account.
“On the same day, a similar tragic attack by gunmen was reported in Kogi State, during which travellers were killed and several others, including women and children, were abducted for ransom. Earlier in the week, there were reports that more than 180 schools across states in Northern Nigeria have been shut and children kept at home as a result of worsening insecurity.
“Unfortunately, these reports form part of a broader and bloodier pattern.
From Plateau to Zamfara, Benue to Niger, Kaduna to Kwara, incidents of mass abductions, violent attacks, and forced displacement continue to rise.”
The opposition party added that despite the deplorable security situation across the country, the Federal Government has continued to give “vague assurances that progress is being made.” It stated that the claim by the government is refuted daily in blood and body counts of innocent victims who, it now appears, the gunmen kill for sport.
It recalled that earlier in the year, when “hundreds of people were killed by gunmen in the same Plateau State in attacks that lasted several months,” President Tinubu, rather than visit the state, remained in the Presidential Villa to condemn the attack and issue directives, which no one allegedly obeyed.
“President Tinubu’s claim of progress in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria is indeed a tragic denial of the reality of most Nigerians who have had to bury loved ones in recent days and on a daily basis. This denial by the President, no doubt, emanates either from cruel indifference or tragic oversimplification of a very complex problem. This is why the President does not say anything new or promise anything new on how he plans to lift this siege on Nigeria.”
Consequently, the ADC implored the President to formally acknowledge the enormity of the security challenges nationwide and” stop making insensitive claims of progress which mock the reality of Nigerians” as well as engage honestly and directly with affected states and communities.
It also charged President Tinubu to elevate the level of security alertness in the country and coordinate joint military and police deployments to affected areas, while fully involving local and state security networks.
Also, the party urged the President to “institute a transparent mechanism for tracking and auditing the use of federal security funds” and also commit to publicly reporting security incidents and outcomes regularly.
“Nigeria is under attack. This administration must stop pretending otherwise. They must stop treating national security as a political talking point and start treating it as a governing priority. The lives of Nigerians must matter more than soundbites and ceremonies. The time for symbolic gestures is over. What the country needs now is responsible leadership, operational urgency, and measurable results,” it stated.
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