A former presidential aide, Babafemi Ojudu, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s escalating security crisis, warning that continued failure to address it could threaten the nation’s democratic stability.
Ojudu made the remarks on Tuesday and called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent and decisive action.
“I’m a member of the APC [ruling party] and I shouldn’t be seen to be deliberately going out to criticise a president elected on the platform of my party. But let me just say a bit of the truth here, even if I’ll be condemned by members of my party,” Ojudu said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
“I think the security situation is worrisome, and I’m not happy with the way it’s being handled. It is being treated as if it’s a skirmish between two policemen or some bad boys on the street. The President must sit up. This is a serious challenge to the existence of this country.”
The senator, who represented Ekiti Central, criticised the administration’s response as inadequate, referencing the recent violence in parts of Benue, Plateau, and Kogi states.
“You go to the North-Central, the North-East, the North-West—even places as close to Yorubaland as Kogi and Kwara—bandits are already on the rampage,” he said.
“The President needs to wake up and find solutions. All these palliatives about going to a hall in Benue State to talk to people or crack jokes is not the solution.”
Ojudu urged the President to issue direct orders to the military and security agencies to produce a coordinated master plan.
“He should hand a marching order to military officials, police hierarchy, the army, navy, air force, and intelligence agencies to come together and come up with a master plan to quickly solve these problems,” the former lawmaker said.
Threat To Democracy, Risk 2027 Re-election
He warned that failure to act on insecurity could threaten democracy and risk a return to military rule.
“His advisers should tell him plainly. If he doesn’t, it will threaten democracy. We don’t want to go back to a military era. We don’t want to start running into exile or being jailed. Let him quickly solve this problem before it destroys our democracy,” he said.
Ojudu warned that the security situation, if left unchecked, could be manipulated for political ends as the 2027 elections approach.
“If these things continue until the election, we don’t know what use those people (violent actors) might be put to. That, in itself, threatens the very fabric of our society. I’m worried—very, very worried,” the APC chieftain said.
“The way things are going—people being slaughtered, kidnapped—it’s not by sitting in Abuja and pretending all is well. Something has to be done. Things are not going well.”
Asked to react to a statement by legal luminary Olisa Agbakoba, who questioned the feasibility of recent reforms within Nigeria’s centralised governance structure, Ojudu expressed agreement and concern.
“I agree. We have to think within the context of our structure. My surprise is that—knowing President Tinubu to be a believer in restructuring—the way things are being run now, it seems power is being further consolidated at the federal level.
“Development commissions are springing up everywhere. We don’t need all of these. Instead, we are again putting more power in the hands of the federal government,” he added.
Ojudu’s comments follow growing concerns over the government’s handling of security, amid rising casualties across several states in the last few weeks.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s North-Central zone, has in recent months experienced a surge in deadly attacks, especially in Yelewata and surrounding communities.
Over 100 people were killed in two months, with rights groups suggesting the figure could be higher. A recent overnight raid left scores dead and displaced thousands of residents.
In response, President Tinubu visited the state, directing security chiefs to take decisive action and mandating intelligence agencies to enhance surveillance. The peace-building committee announced by the president, comprising traditional rulers, including the Tor Tiv V and the Och’Idoma, has begun its peace talks.
Despite these measures, criticism persists over the slow pace of response and coordination among security operatives.
Further highlighting the security landscape, 12 travellers from Kaduna State were lynched by a mob in Plateau State while en route to a wedding over the weekend.
The act was condemned by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who stressed that “pain and suffering must not justify violence against innocent commuters.”
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani described the killings as an “act of savagery” and vowed justice. President Tinubu also issued a statement, affirming that freedom of movement is “non-negotiable” for all Nigerians.
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