Resign if You Can’t Secure Nigerians, SDP Presidential Candidate Tells Tinubu

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over worsening insecurity across the country, saying the president should resign if he cannot protect Nigerians.

Adebayo made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government Secretariat in Ibadan.

According to him, he visited the state to express solidarity with residents and the Oyo State Government following recent attacks by armed bandits on schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

The attacks reportedly targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, where several teachers and students were abducted.

Adebayo described the incidents as evidence of a wider national security crisis and accused the Federal Government of failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.

“What Oyo State is going through today is what many states are going through,” he said.

“And that’s because President Tinubu has failed to do his job as Commander-In-Chief. If you cannot secure your state, which is the heart of Yorubaland, what is the use of being government at all?”

The SDP candidate also alleged that security funds were being misused for political purposes instead of strengthening security operations against armed groups.

“The State Government is a victim of the failure of the Federal Government. President Tinubu is sitting on top of heavy security votes, which are used to destabilise political parties, instead of applying them for the armed forces to secure the country,” he said.

Adebayo warned that insecurity across Nigeria had reached alarming levels and could no longer be treated lightly.

“You cannot run an economy, you cannot provide jobs, yet you cannot secure lives. What is the use?” he asked.

“I told Tinubu sometime last year that you have to use your gun to kill the terrorists or use a pen to resign. If you can’t do it, quit the job. Other people will do it.”

He further expressed concern over attacks on both civilians and military personnel, lamenting what he described as a deteriorating national security environment.

According to him, the Nigerian Armed Forces possess the capacity to tackle insecurity effectively if properly led and supported.