The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the worsening security situation in the country, urging him to resign if he cannot protect Nigerians.
Adebayo spoke with journalists on Tuesday, shortly after a closed-door meeting with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde at his Office in Ibadan, where he said he visited to show solidarity with the people and government of the state following recent security concerns.
He accused the Federal Government of failing in its constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, describing the situation in Oyo as part of a wider national security crisis.
“The reason why we came here is to give solidarity to the people of Oyo State and the government of Oyo State, and to sympathise with the communities. What Oyo State is going through today is what many states are going through,” Adebayo said.
The SDP stalwart said the Tinubu administration had failed in its primary duty as Commander-in-Chief, adding that insecurity had spread across regions previously considered relatively safe.
“And that’s because President Bola Tinubu has failed to do his job as commander-in-chief. If you cannot secure your state, which is the heart of Yorubaland, what is the use of being government at all?” he queried.
Adebayo further alleged that security resources were being diverted for political purposes rather than tackling insecurity across the country.
“The state government is a victim of the failure of the federal government. President Bola Tinubu is sitting on top of heavy security votes, which are used to destabilise political parties, instead of applying them for the armed forces to secure the country,” Adebayo said.
He warned that Nigerians could no longer treat the country’s security challenges lightly, citing killings and attacks across several states.
“You cannot run an economy, you cannot provide jobs, yet you cannot secure lives. What is the use? Nigerian people need to understand that it’s no longer a joke.”
Adebayo, therefore, called on the President to either decisively confront terrorists or step down from office.
“I told President Tinubu sometime last year that you have to use your gun to kill the terrorists or use a pen to resign. If you can’t do it, quit the job. Other people will do it,” he said.
The former presidential candidate also expressed concern over attacks on both civilians and military personnel, lamenting what he described as a deteriorating national security environment.
“That teacher who got beheaded, if he wanted to join the army, he would have joined the army. Now we are in a country where generals are being killed like chickens,“ the SDP chieftain stated.
He urged the President to focus on governance rather than politics, while calling for improved welfare and operational support for members of the armed forces.
“Leave politics aside. Focus on your job as Commander-in-Chief. Nigerian armed forces are capable of defending not only Nigeria but the entire West Africa, if only they had a Commander-in-Chief who could lead them properly,” he said.
