Nigeria does not need leaders who merely recount yesterday’s victories. It needs leaders who can stop today’s killings, kidnappings, and growing atmosphere of fear. It needs leaders capable of protecting lives and securing the future of children who now find themselves among the victims of violent crime
NIGERIA appears to be sliding back to a dark chapter reminiscent of the pre-June 1998 era. That was a period when fear, insecurity, and uncertainty drove confidence, peace, and even the most basic sense of safety from our streets, villages, and cities.
At a time when terrorists and kidnappers are unleashing unprecedented violence on innocent citizens, including children, Nigerians deserve leadership that demonstrates urgency, empathy, and problem-solving capacity. Security challenges are not occasions for political spin; they are moments that call for decisive action and a relentless commitment to restoring peace and order.
Unfortunately, many government spokespersons seem more interested in offering provocative red herrings than meaningful explanations or practical solutions. Their dismissive responses to the fears and frustrations of ordinary Nigerians suggest a troubling disconnect from the realities facing citizens daily.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) and his political strategists would do well to remember the lessons of political history and the inevitability of political nemesis.
In the build-up to the 2015 general elections, the then newly formed APC successfully portrayed former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration as “clueless” in its handling of the growing insurgency in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions of Nigeria. The term became a powerful political weapon, deployed repeatedly by opposition figures, particularly the APC’s then National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.
The criticism gained even greater traction following the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction and the emergence of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, which amplified concerns about the government’s response to insecurity.
Yet, despite all the criticism directed at the Jonathan administration, many Nigerians recall visible demonstrations of empathy from government officials. The nation witnessed former First Lady, Dr. Patience Jonathan, publicly express grief over the suffering of affected communities.
Today, however, insecurity has spread far beyond isolated regions. Virtually every geopolitical zone in Nigeria is grappling with one form of violent criminality or another. Kidnapping for ransom, terrorist attacks, and organized criminal violence have become distressingly commonplace. There is defeaning agony from Ogbomosho to Kano, from Ahiara to countless other communities across the country.
Against this backdrop, Nigerians are increasingly frustrated when some government defenders remind them that President Tinubu once “took bullets for democracy” or sacrificed for the nation in the past. While history deserves its place, citizens cannot survive on past accomplishments.
Nigeria does not need leaders who merely recount yesterday’s victories. It needs leaders who can stop today’s killings, kidnappings, and growing atmosphere of fear. It needs leaders capable of protecting lives and securing the future of children who now find themselves among the victims of violent crime.
With the benefit of hindsight, many Nigerians who accepted the characterization of the Jonathan administration as “clueless” are now reassessing that judgment. The current climate of insecurity, coupled with severe economic hardship, has generated widespread concern about the government’s capacity to effectively respond to the nation’s challenges.
If the Jonathan government was condemned as clueless for its inability to stop insecurity, critics now argue that the Tinubu administration risks being perceived as callous because of what they regard as an inadequate sense of urgency and empathy in confronting the crisis.
Particularly troubling are public reactions from some government officials to incidents involving the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers. Comments perceived as dismissive of public outrage have only deepened the frustration and bewilderment of many citizens.
If the APC succeeds in winning the 2027 general elections, will it be governing a secure and prosperous nation? Or will it merely be presiding over a kidnapped country where fear, kidnapping, and insecurity have become the defining features of daily life? Mr President, take action to reverse our multiplying miseries so that you do not receive the garland of leading a callous government.
Given the enormous resources committed to security over the past several years, Nigerians are justified in demanding measurable results. Citizens have a right to expect protection from a government that collects taxes, commands security agencies, and exercises the powers of the state.
As President Tinubu’s supporters continue to proclaim, “On your mandate we shall stand,” many Nigerians are asking a different question: When will the promises made during the “E lo f’okan bale” (“Please relax”) campaign become reality?
During the 2023 presidential campaign, Bola Ahmed Tinubu identified the fight against insecurity as one of the central pillars of his Renewed Hope agenda. Nigerians embraced those promises because they longed for relief from violence, economic hardship, and uncertainty.
Three years later, many citizens are still waiting for the tangible improvements they were promised.
History ultimately judges leaders not by the eloquence of their campaign speeches but by the outcomes of their stewardship. President Tinubu still has time to change the narrative. He can demonstrate that the promises of Renewed Hope were more than campaign slogans.
Yet there is a growing concern that the ruling party is increasingly focused on preparations for the 2027 elections while many Nigerians remain preoccupied with immediate questions of survival and security.
This is why Mr. President must read the room.
If he and his political advisers do so honestly, they will hear the question being asked in homes, markets, schools, churches, mosques, and public squares across the nation:
If the APC succeeds in winning the 2027 general elections, will it be governing a secure and prosperous nation? Or will it merely be presiding over a kidnapped country where fear, kidnapping, and insecurity have become the defining features of daily life? Mr President, take action to reverse our multiplying miseries so that you do not receive the garland of leading a callous government.
● Pastor (Dr) Adeduro, writer, productivity coach, lives in Lagos
