Nigeria’s political stage this week was dominated by a torrent of allegations, warnings, and rising frustrations that laid naked the nation’s deepening safety disaster and political tensions.
Former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai accused the federal authorities of secretly funding bandits, whereas youths in Sokoto threatened self-defence amid unrelenting violence.
Labour Party’s Datti Baba-Ahmed went additional, alleging that insecurity has turn out to be the APC’s device for energy retention.
Meanwhile, Aminu Tambuwal warned that Nigeria dangers drifting right into a one-party state beneath Tinubu, a cost the federal government is prone to deny however which echoes opposition issues.
The ADC, too, accused police of focusing on opposition leaders as a substitute of confronting bandits, whereas Zamfara’s governor claimed he is aware of the place bandit leaders cover however lacks the authority to behave.
Together, these developments paint a grim image of a rustic caught between political manoeuvring and a worsening safety nightmare.
1. El-Rufai Accuses FG of Paying Bandits to Stop Killings
Nasir El-Rufai accused the federal authorities of secretly paying bandits by the Office of the National Security Adviser, calling the coverage reckless and counterproductive. He warned that negotiations solely embolden criminals to accumulate extra weapons.
Why it Matters:
If true, the declare indicators that violence has turn out to be a worthwhile enterprise sanctioned by the state. Yet El-Rufai’s personal brutal prescription of “killing them all” exposes Nigeria’s safety tragedy: leaders oscillate between cynical offers and blood-soaked options, with no sustainable path in sight.
2. Insecurity: Protect Us or We’ll Carry Arms, Sokoto Youths Warn Govt
Frustrated by recurring bandit assaults, youths in Shagari, Sokoto State, threatened to arm themselves for defense. Bello Bala Shagari, their chief, mentioned the federal government had did not safe communities, leaving residents with no various.
Why it Matters:
This is the breaking level of belief between residents and the state. When folks put together to defend themselves, they declare the federal government irrelevant. It is each an act of braveness and an indication that Nigeria teeters on the sting of anarchy.
3. APC Orchestrating Insecurity to Retain Power — Datti Baba-Ahmed
Datti Baba-Ahmed claimed insecurity had turn out to be the APC’s survival technique, accusing the ruling social gathering of exploiting violence to retain energy. He mentioned El-Rufai was complicit, having been a part of APC’s rule since 2013.
Why it Matters:
The cost displays a broader perception that Nigeria’s insecurity isn’t merely mismanaged, however manipulated. Whether totally true or not, as soon as residents suspect leaders revenue from chaos, governance itself collapses right into a recreation of survival and deceit.
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4. Tinubu Plotting One-party State, Fueling PDP, LP Chaos — Tambuwal
Former governor Aminu Tambuwal alleged that Tinubu’s authorities was destabilising opposition events, creating circumstances for a one-party state. He expressed shock at Tinubu’s management fashion, contrasting it with their previous democratic collaborations.
Why it Matters:
Nigeria’s democracy has at all times been fragile, but when opposition events are weakened by design, the poll dangers changing into theatre. A one-party system will not be overtly declared, however it thrives in silence, manipulation, and concern.
5. Stop Harassing Our Leaders, Face Bandits, ADC Tells Police
The ADC condemned police harassment of opposition figures, citing summons to El-Rufai and assaults on its Kaduna members. It accused the police of ignoring insecurity whereas specializing in silencing dissent.
Why it Matters:
Selective policing sends a harmful sign: that opposition, not insecurity, is the higher menace. When police are seen as political enforcers relatively than protectors, democracy suffocates. A nation already besieged by bandits can not afford its safety companies to double as partisan weapons.
6. Zamfara Gov: I Know Bandit Leaders’ Hideouts however Lack Power to Act
Zamfara governor Dauda Lawal mentioned he is aware of the place bandit leaders function however lacks the authority to behave, as safety forces take orders from Abuja. He argued that banditry would finish in two months if states managed safety.
Why it Matters:
This confession is an indictment of Nigeria’s federal system. Governors carry the title of “chief security officer” however can not command safety companies. This disconnect leaves states paralysed, whereas residents pay the worth in lives and livelihoods.
Conclusion
This week uncovered the widening cracks in Nigeria’s political and safety framework. From allegations of state complicity in banditry to fears of a one-party drift, the nation’s foundations of belief, governance, and federal steadiness are beneath pressure.
Elites are at battle with each other, residents are arming themselves, and governors lament their powerlessness.
The image is considered one of a fragile democracy struggling to comprise violence, dissent, and authoritarian impulses, leaving Nigeria teetering between survival and systemic collapse.
