Amid escalating violence across Nigeria, former presidential adviser and prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Babafemi Ojudu has delivered a blunt and urgent call to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to confront Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation before it spirals into a national crisis with far-reaching consequences for democracy and the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, the former senator for Ekiti Central broke ranks with the ruling party, describing the federal government’s response to insecurity as dangerously inadequate.
“I’m a member of the APC and I shouldn’t be seen to be deliberately criticising a president elected on our platform,” Ojudu said.
“But let me say the truth. The security situation is worrisome. It’s being treated as if it’s just a skirmish between two policemen or some boys on the street. The President must sit up.”
Ojudu cited the wave of killings in Benue, Plateau, and Kogi as symptomatic of a wider collapse in security architecture, noting that bandits and insurgents are now operating with impunity even in states bordering the southwestern region.
“You go to the North-Central, North-East, and North-West, even places like Kogi and Kwara, bandits are on the rampage. This is no longer a local problem. It’s a national emergency,” he warned.
He dismissed the federal government’s recent peace-building meetings and community outreach efforts in Benue as largely symbolic and ineffective, urging President Tinubu to issue direct orders to the military and intelligence agencies for a coordinated response.
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“Going to a hall in Benue to crack jokes or make speeches is not the solution. The President needs to hand a marching order to military officials, police, navy, air force, and the intelligence community to create a master plan—fast.”
Ojudu raised alarm over the potential use of violent non-state actors to disrupt the 2027 elections, cautioning that if insecurity continues, it may undermine public confidence in democratic processes and open the door to anti-democratic forces.
“If these killings and kidnappings continue, we don’t know what use these violent groups might be put to. It could threaten the 2027 elections, erode public trust, and endanger the very fabric of our democracy.”
Recalling Nigeria’s past under military rule, Ojudu said the current path could lead to dangerous consequences.
“If we continue this way, we may return to military-style governance. We don’t want to run into exile. We don’t want to be jailed. This is serious. Something must be done—and done now.”
The APC chieftain also endorsed recent comments by legal luminary Olisa Agbakoba, who criticised Nigeria’s centralised governance structure, calling instead for devolution of powers and localised solutions.
“We’re consolidating too much at the centre. We keep creating central agencies when what we need is devolved authority,” Ojudu said.
“It’s sad that President Tinubu, who once championed restructuring, now seems to be heading in the opposite direction.”
Ojudu’s comments come against the backdrop of renewed violence across Nigeria. In Benue State, over 100 people have been killed in the past two months in a series of communal and militia attacks, with the town of Yelwata worst affected.
A recent night-time raid displaced thousands and plunged several communities into mourning, prompting President Tinubu to visit the state and inaugurate a peace committee comprising traditional rulers such as the Tor Tiv V and Och’Idoma. However, critics argue that the effort lacks urgency and tactical coordination.
Meanwhile, in Plateau State, 12 travellers from Kaduna State were lynched by a mob over the weekend en route to a wedding. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna, and President Tinubu, who vowed that those responsible would face justice.
Ojudu’s remarks represent one of the most pointed public critiques from within the ruling APC, reflecting growing unease among the political elite and wider citizenry over the government’s ability to restore law and order.
“The way things are going—people being slaughtered, kidnapped—it’s not by sitting in Abuja and pretending all is well,” he said with emphasis.
With violence showing no signs of abating, and the next general election just over 18 months away, Ojudu’s urgent message has added weight to the chorus of voices demanding a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture—and bold leadership at the highest level.