Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Usman Bugaje, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over what he described as its failure to fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, arguing that the worsening security situation raises questions about the government’s bid for a second term.
Bugaje, a former member of the House of Representatives, made the remarks on Tuesday during an appearance on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
According to him, insecurity remains the country’s most pressing challenge, despite the administration nearing the completion of its first term in office.
“In terms of insecurity, I feel this government should be ashamed of itself. They should come out and apologise to Nigerians that they have not been able to provide security,” Bugaje said.
He added that he was surprised by what he described as the administration’s determination to seek another term despite the security challenges confronting the nation.
The SDP chieftain pointed to reports of attacks on traditional rulers, kidnappings and the inability of many farmers to access their farmlands as evidence of a deteriorating security environment.
Citing reports from the South-West, Bugaje said dozens of traditional rulers no longer spend nights in their palaces due to fears over insecurity.
“We have seen reports that more than 30 Obas in the South-West do not sleep in their palaces because many of them have been attacked, kidnapped or exposed to danger. That speaks volumes about the insecurity in this country,” he stated.
He also expressed concern over reports that Nigerians paid trillions of naira in ransom to criminal groups within a year, arguing that the figures demonstrate the scale of the security crisis.
Referring to statistics reportedly released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Bugaje said more than N2.2 trillion was allegedly paid as ransom between 2023 and 2024.
According to him, the amount exceeds the country’s security budget and suggests that criminal groups are becoming increasingly empowered.
“If the state allocates less money to security than what bandits are collecting as ransom, then the bandits are in a position to have more resources than the state itself. That means the state is already defeated,” he argued.
The former lawmaker further warned that insecurity is threatening agricultural production, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria where farmers have reportedly abandoned their farms due to fear of attacks.
He cited states including Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto as areas where insecurity has significantly affected farming activities.
Bugaje also recounted the case of a prominent farmer who was allegedly kidnapped, paid a ransom of N500 million and was later killed by his abductors.
According to him, such incidents illustrate the growing confidence of criminal groups and the inability of authorities to effectively address the threat.
“Even after collecting the ransom, they killed him. That shows the state has been defeated,” he said.
The SDP official maintained that there could be no justification for what he described as the government’s poor performance in tackling insecurity.
“Security is the government’s fundamental constitutional duty. For me, if they fail in that responsibility, there is no basis for asking Nigerians for another term,” Bugaje stated.
He also dismissed suggestions by some government officials that reports of insecurity are being exaggerated to undermine the administration.
Describing such claims as attempts to evade responsibility, he argued that the reality of the situation was too evident to be ignored.
Bugaje further alleged that some public officials and political actors maintain questionable relationships with criminal groups operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
While commenting on the reported death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who allegedly died in captivity after being abducted, he claimed that recorded conversations existed between local government officials and individuals identified as bandit leaders.
According to him, the nature of those conversations suggested familiarity between the parties involved.
The former legislator also recounted an incident in his hometown of Bugaji in Katsina State, where local youths engaged in community self-defence reportedly apprehended armed suspects and handed them over to the police.
He alleged that the youths were later detained after a bandit leader complained that one of three firearms allegedly seized from his associates was missing.
Bugaje claimed that some state officials appeared more concerned about the complaints of the alleged bandit than the actions of the youths who had assisted security agencies.
In addition, he referenced past allegations against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, concerning alleged links to bandits during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State.
Bugaje said the government lacked the political will required to decisively confront criminal elements and individuals allegedly connected to them.
He argued that the persistence of banditry and kidnappings across several parts of the country reflects deeper governance and security challenges that require urgent attention.
