The Peoples Redemption Party, on Thursday, called on President Bola Tinubu to resign from office, accusing him of failing in his constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of Nigerians amid worsening insecurity across the country.
The call comes amid growing concerns over insecurity, particularly following the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
The attack, which occurred on May 15, saw armed men invade three schools in Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting scores of pupils and teachers and leaving families traumatised.
The incident has triggered nationwide outrage and renewed calls for reforms in the country’s security system.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Chairman of the PRP, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, stated that the security situation under the Tinubu administration had deteriorated to alarming levels, with violent criminals operating freely across various parts of the country.
According to him, no Nigerian is safe under the current administration, as insecurity has spread beyond previously affected regions to virtually every part of the country.
It is now beyond any doubt that President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully in discharging his prime responsibility as Nigerian President, which is to secure the Nigerian citizen. Under his watch, old threats have blossomed and mutated, while more and more Nigerians, irrespective of status or age, have fallen victim to violent criminals,” Baba-Ahmed said.
The PRP chairman lamented that the country’s security challenges had worsened to the point where schoolchildren and other vulnerable groups had become targets of criminal elements.
He said, “From Generals to toddlers; from Bama to Badagry, no Nigerian is safe under this leadership. It is no longer the case that only parts of the country have been virtually surrendered to criminals. Now, no Nigerian in any part of the country is protected from rampant violent criminals who exploit our major weakness.
“School children have joined the long stretch of soft targets, and the nation appears to be at the point of accepting this situation as normal. We must not submit to the weakness of leaders and the exploits of criminals. This is not how Nigerians should live.”
Baba-Ahmed accused the President of concentrating enormous powers around himself without translating them into improved security for citizens.
“Our President has failed the nation, and there is no evidence that he can improve on his pathetic record. He has amassed all the power in the country around him, yet he has failed to use it to protect and defend Nigerians,” he stated.
The former presidential aide argued that democratic leadership requires accountability and responsibility, insisting that Tinubu’s continued stay in office despite the country’s worsening security situation was unacceptable.
“In most other democracies, President Tinubu’s failure to respect the values of accountability and responsibility would not have been tolerated. Nigerians must rise to demand an end to this ineptitude and indifference. President Tinubu should resign, now!”
The opposition party further argued that Nigerians could not afford to wait until the 2027 general elections to express their dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of insecurity.
“While he may have the luxury of ignoring our current deteriorating circumstances and awaiting the verdict of rejection by voters in 2027, Nigerians who will continue to fall victim to violent criminals do not have the luxury of waiting to vote him out in 2027.
“There is nothing democratic in insisting that incompetent and uncaring leadership must complete terms. Nigerians should demand, with one voice, that President Tinubu’s failure to secure Nigerians cannot be tolerated any further,” Baba-Ahmed added.
The latest criticism comes amid growing concerns over recurring incidents of banditry, kidnappings, communal violence and attacks on communities in different parts of the country, which have continued to fuel calls for stronger security measures by the Federal Government.
The Presidency had repeatedly maintained that the Tinubu administration inherited deep-rooted security challenges and has continued to deploy military and intelligence resources to tackle criminal activities across the country.
