The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has urged Bola Tinubu to shift attention away from the 2027 presidential race and concentrate on addressing the country’s worsening security situation.
Ndume made the appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday, following a series of explosions that struck parts of Maiduguri on Monday. The attacks, attributed to Boko Haram, left 23 people dead.
In his reaction, the lawmaker stressed the need for the President to prioritise governance, particularly the protection of lives and property as well as the welfare of citizens, which he described as the government’s foremost responsibility.
He said, “We seem to have abandoned the people for politics. The people that will vote are dying.
“President Tinubu should concentrate on governance. He should address the safety of Nigerians and their welfare first.
“If there is no improvement in their welfare and security, the government becomes their enemy.
He should walk his talk on this emergency on security. The people should see that he is addressing their welfare.
“We are in a state of emergency, and he should be seen to be addressing the scary security situation convincingly.”
Ndume also called on security agencies to intensify their operations, particularly in intelligence gathering and investigations, to prevent future attacks.
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He urged authorities to ensure that those responsible for the Maiduguri bombings are brought to justice.
“Perpetrators of the Maiduguri bombings must be arrested in relation to the explosions. I learned that one of the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) was detonated from a tricycle.
That must have been registered with the relevant authority, and the investigation will expose the owner, and that may help in identifying those behind the explosions.”
The former Senate Leader further expressed sympathy to the Borno State government, residents of the Northeast, and families of the victims.
He criticised what he described as a mere press statement issued by the President in response to the tragedy, insisting that the scale of the incident warrants stronger action.
“It is not enough to put up a strongly worded press statement. What has happened in Borno and other states in terms of the number of deaths and injuries recorded calls for national mourning.”
“If President Tinubu can’t visit Borno, he should send Vice President Kashim Shettima to really assure Nigerians that he cares about their plights,” he added.