House Minority Caucus Slams Tinubu Govt Over Worsening Insecurity, Economic Woes

The opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Wednesday launched a scathing critique of the national situation, accusing President Bola Tinubu's administration of failing to address escalating insecurity, deepening economic challenges, and increasing threats to democratic institutions. The minority caucus alleged that the government was more focused on political strategies for the 2027 general elections than on resolving the urgent problems facing Nigerians.

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Fred Agbedi, stated that Nigeria is currently experiencing one of its most challenging periods since the return to democracy in 1999. He pointed to persistent insecurity, rising poverty, and growing public frustration as key indicators. Agbedi declared, “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 emphasized that the caucus felt compelled to convene the press conference “with a heavy heart but with unshaken resolve to speak truth to power,” asserting that silence amidst the country’s difficulties would be tantamount to complicity.

The opposition members argued that three years into the Tinubu presidency, Nigerians have yet to witness substantial improvements in security and economic conditions, despite repeated assurances from government officials. A significant part of their briefing focused on the recent demise of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was reportedly kidnapped along with his wife in Katsina State and subsequently died while in captivity. The lawmakers labeled this incident a tragic illustration of the nationwide decline in security and urged for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death. Agbedi remarked, “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 failed state. It is a national embarrassment.”

The caucus highlighted that Abubakar’s death occurred amidst a surge of attacks by bandits, terrorists, and criminal elements across various regions, including the North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South-East. They noted that security personnel, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens have increasingly become targets of kidnappers and armed groups, despite ongoing military operations. Agbedi questioned, “If a General is not safe within the borders of our nation, then who truly is?” He expressed concern over the vulnerability of community leaders and traditional rulers who are frequently targeted by criminals, adding, “Our security is in the mud. Yet, the political class is busy rehearsing new political dance steps, seemingly unbothered.”

The minority caucus implored President Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, to promptly unveil a comprehensive security blueprint to tackle the diverse threats facing the nation. Agbedi recalled, “At a period in our nation’s long-drawn battle with these insurgents, victory was close by, especially with the presence of mercenaries in the frontlines. Today, no one is sure what the strategy, if any, is.” They also called for improved welfare for security personnel, enhanced intelligence gathering, and a complete restructuring of the country’s security architecture.

Furthermore, the lawmakers voiced apprehension regarding the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, describing it as another failure of the state to ensure citizen safety. Agbedi stated, “As we speak, school children and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria.” The caucus demanded immediate and coordinated rescue efforts from security agencies, warning of severe dangers if the victims remained captive for too long. They argued that this incident brought back painful memories of previous mass student abductions across Nigeria, which have consistently raised concerns about school safety despite government initiatives like the Safe Schools Initiative.

The minority caucus also raised alarms about what they termed “troubling developments” within the judiciary, specifically referencing a Federal High Court judgment that mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties. According to Agbedi, this ruling casts serious doubt on the health of Nigeria’s democracy and could undermine political pluralism ahead of future elections. He contended, “This judgment, coming only months to the country’s general elections and after a subsisting Appeal Court decision on the same matter, is not intended to serve justice. Instead, it appears to be a deliberate ploy to engender judicial chaos weaponised to destabilise the polity.” The Bayelsa lawmaker condemned the judgment as “rascality taken too far,” asserting that it established a perilous precedent capable of weakening democratic participation and narrowing political space. He questioned why INEC’s submissions, reportedly confirming that the affected parties had met legal requirements through electoral victories, were allegedly disregarded.

The caucus further alleged that opposition parties increasingly face institutional obstacles, including delays in registering new political parties and attempts to hinder emerging political coalitions. Agbedi claimed, “From external manipulations and executive meddlesomeness that kept old political structures polarised, to the attempt to truncate new alliances through institutional bottlenecks, such as the refusal to register new political parties, the whole goal has been to muscle all credible opposition out of the 2027 contest.” While acknowledging the Court of Appeal’s intervention to halt the Federal High Court judgment’s implementation, the lawmakers urged democratic stakeholders to remain vigilant.

Regarding the economy, the caucus presented a grim assessment of the conditions faced by Nigerians, citing rampant inflation, high food prices, diminished purchasing power, and widespread hardship. They argued that the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira—key reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration—had placed immense burdens on citizens without adequate social safety nets. Agbedi lamented, “From Sokoto to Enugu, from Borno to Lagos, the story is the same: hunger, killings, kidnappings, collapse of the naira, collapse of hope.”

The opposition lawmakers accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency of prioritizing political activities over effective governance. Agbedi stated, “Yet what preoccupies the ruling party and the Presidency is 2027 endorsement rallies, defections, re-election strategies and Town hall meetings to discuss tenure security.” They challenged President Tinubu to temporarily halt all political activities related to the next election cycle and focus entirely on addressing the nation’s urgent challenges. They demanded that President Tinubu “suspend all 2027 political activities and declare a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan,” urging him to “Lead or leave.”

As part of their recommendations, the caucus called for “An independent and transparent investigation into the abduction and death of Maj Gen Abubakar, immediate efforts to secure the release of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and urgent reforms within the security sector.” The lawmakers also urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to intervene in disputes arising from conflicting court judgments concerning political parties, while appealing to INEC to safeguard democratic competition ahead of the 2027 elections. Agbedi further issued a warning against what he described as attempts to...