Is Tinubu And APC Playing Politics With National Security -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

From the early school years, we are taught that the basic needs of human being are food shelter, clothing and maybe access to information. While the individuals strive to meet and maximize the utility from these essentials, businesses try to maximize their earnings and profitability while the government provides the framework to enable the citizens and the businesses to thrive. The government provides security for lives and property in every sovereign state. Thus, any government that cannot provide this basic need of the citizens is assumed to have failed. On the grounds of that, I can safely assert that the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed Nigerians by not being able to curb the rising spate of insecurity in the country.

Granted, he may have inherited security challenges from his immediate predecessor, Mohammadu Buhari. But, the situation was not this bad during Buhari’s tenure. As it is now, the problem of insecurity has metastasized to every nook and cranny of Nigeria while the government and security agencies watch helplessly. Many concerned observers have asked why the rising spate of insecurity despite the huge defense spending annually. Many have attributed the reason to corruption. It alleged that the monies budgeted for defense were often misappropriated. Many others believe that the intractable security problem is the result of sabotage. It alleged that the terrorists have infiltrated the Nigerian army and thus use their position to reveal operational modalities to their dare-devil colleagues.

Furthermore, it is the opinion of many security and public affairs commentators that the government hasn’t the will power to tackle insecurity. And I believe this to be true. There is this unconfirmed statement attributed to the late Gen. Sani Abacha: “that if insurgency lasts beyond 24 hours that the government hand is in it.” Indeed, if the government hand is not in it, why has the government not adopted measures to neutralize the rag-tag insurgent army? Why was the government reluctant to allow America come in to help fight terrorism? Why is the government paying huge sums of money to lobby Trump’s administration to cover up killings in Nigeria? If the government hands is not in it why is the government accommodating known apologists and sympathizers of the Boko Haram terrorist in its fold? If the government hand is not in it why is it that nobody has been arrested and tried for terrorism during this period? Why is the government still keeping security chief even when it is obvious that they have no clues about how to battle the problem of insecurity in the land?

The truth, as a colleague once asserted is that the government of APC is playing politics with the national security. Some people erroneously believe that the fight against insecurity is against them and their religion and Tinubu did not want to anger these people. So, he is ready allow continued waste of human lives by living in denials  as long as that guarantees him another shot at the Aso Rock Villa in 2027. Some have asserted that Tinubu is using insecurity just as he is using hunger and poverty as an instrument of governance. Insecurity in the land will discourage mass participation in civic duties and elections and pave way for gun-wielding minions of the government to perpetuate electoral fraud. Insecurity in the land has reduced civil advocacy, protests and agitations and has injected apathy in the minds of the people. Many citizens have openly declared that they are not going to participate in the 2027 General Election. They don’t want to be harassed or killed by the agents of the government that want to retain power at all costs.

The Nigeria security agencies claim they have intel about the operations of the various groups terrorizing Nigerians and yet could not take them out. It took the American intervention last December to destroy the ISIS base in Sokoto State. And ever since that operation, the various terrorists groups seem to be put in overdrive mode. Reports indicates that several cases of terrorists attack have resulted in over 500 casualties. Last month about 177 persons were abducted from three different churches in the remote villages in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna State, an incident that the government initially denied only to own up when the Amnesty International blew up the lid. In Borno, it was bloodbath as members of Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) killed over 90 civilians and soldiers in Sabon Gari and Biu. Again, on the 31st of January 2026 a military base was destroyed completely by members of the Boko Haram militants. A few days ago it is the same gory tale of kidnapping and killing in Niger State.

Clearly, it is delusional for anyone in the North to which I belong, to think that the security crisis in the North is for the purpose of religion. It is not. It is political and economic while they use religion as cover up. If it is for religious purpose why are they killing both Christians and Moslems? Those benefitting from this security crisis are illegal miners and unscrupulous politicians exploiting our resources in the North.

Nigeria has a crucial choice to make in 2027. We have to decide whether to continue to dwell in fear and insecurity or vote out this clueless regime and reclaim our country and our freedom. Long live Nigeria!

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK