Ojudu Urges Tinubu to Tackle Insecurity, Warns of Threat to Democracy

 Senator Babafemi Ojudu, a former presidential aide and APC chieftain, has called on President Bola Tinubu to “sit up” and address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, warning that persistent violence threatens the nation’s democracy. Ojudu cited recent attacks, including the Yelwata massacre in Benue and a Boko Haram bombing in Konduga, as evidence of governance failures.

Ojudu, a former senator from Ekiti, highlighted the 2,500 deaths from farmer-herder clashes and 580 from terrorism in 2024. “Democracy is at risk when citizens live in fear,” he said, urging Tinubu to overhaul the security architecture. He criticized the overlap between police and military roles, advocating for a 20,000-strong community policing force. Ojudu also pointed to economic drivers of unrest, with 33% unemployment and 30% food inflation fueling crime.

Tinubu’s administration, responding via Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, defended its efforts, citing 10,000 troop deployments and ₦500 billion for counter-terrorism in 2025. Ojudu’s remarks, echoing Peter Obi’s critique of Tinubu’s Benue visit, have sparked debate within the APC, with some members praising his candor and others accusing him of disloyalty.