The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, on Thursday, called on President Bola Tinubu to resign from office, accusing him of failing in his constitutional duties to protect the lives and property of Nigerians amid worsening insecurity across the country.
The call comes amid mounting concerns about insecurity, particularly in light of the recent abduction of students and instructors in Oyo State.
On May 15, armed men stormed three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota towns in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area, abducting dozens of students and teachers and causing trauma for families.
The incident sparked widespread indignation and spurred calls for improvements to the country’s security apparatus.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, National Chairman of the PRP, declared in a statement on Thursday that the security situation under the Tinubu administration had worsened to dangerous proportions, with violent criminals running freely across the country.
According to the PRP chairman, no Nigerian is safe under the current administration since insecurity has extended throughout the country, even beyond the previously impacted regions.
It is now without doubt that Tinubu has failed miserably in carrying out his first obligation as Nigerian president, which is to secure Nigerian citizens. Under his watch, old threats have flourished and mutated, and an increasing number of Nigerians, regardless of rank or age, have fallen prey to violent criminals,” Baba-Ahmed added.
The PRP chairman expressed concern that the country’s security issues had deteriorated to the point that 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 criticized the president for accumulating enormous powers around himself without translating them into better protection for residents.
“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 contended that democratic leadership necessitates accountability and responsibility and that Tinubu’s extended tenure in government despite the country’s deteriorating security situation was untenable.
“In most other democracies, 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 also claimed that Nigerians could not afford to wait until the 2027 general elections to register their displeasure 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 current critique comes amid mounting concerns about repeating cases of banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and attacks on communities around the country, which have fueled requests for additional security measures from the federal government.
The presidency has consistently said that the Tinubu government inherited deep-rooted security difficulties and has continued to deploy military and intelligence resources to combat criminal activity throughout the country.
