A respected Northern elder and vocal public affairs analyst, Alhaji Dabo Sambo, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to swiftly address the deepening security crisis in northern Nigeria or risk a major backlash at the 2027 presidential polls.
Speaking to journalists during a press briefing, Alhaji Sambo described the current state of insecurity as the most pressing challenge confronting the nation. He emphasized that the persistent wave of banditry, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks especially in the North-East and North-West has created a climate of fear and desperation, crippling agriculture and economic activity.
“Insecurity remains Nigeria’s greatest enemy today,” Sambo declared. “Lives are being lost daily, property is destroyed, and fear has taken over communities. If the president fails to restore peace and order, he may not survive politically in 2027.”
The elder statesman linked the ongoing food crisis in the country to the security breakdown, stressing that northern Nigeria, which produces more than 60% of the nation’s food, has become a war zone where farmers are abandoning their lands in fear of attacks.
“Hunger is spreading across the country. People can’t feed their families because those who grow the food have been driven away from their farms by criminals,” he said.
Sambo also criticized the economic fallout of the insecurity, pointing to a weak naira, soaring inflation, and increasing transportation costs as symptoms of a country in distress. According to him, these hardships are draining the income and savings of ordinary Nigerians and creating widespread disillusionment.
In a direct message to President Tinubu, Sambo called for urgent action. He challenged the administration to bring the security situation under control within six months and begin reviving local agricultural production within one year.
“Mr. President must act now. The time for talk is over. Nigerians are watching and waiting,” he warned. “If he fails to wipe out these threats, he will follow the same path as former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid largely because he failed to deal with Boko Haram.”
Alhaji Sambo said voters are becoming more conscious and will no longer be swayed by tokenistic campaign giveaways.
“The era when politicians could distribute cartons of noodles and salt and expect loyalty is gone,” he noted. “People are demanding security and food. Without those two, even the best campaign slogans will not work.”
Although he dismissed many of Tinubu’s political opponents as lacking concrete plans to address Nigeria’s challenges, Sambo insisted that failure to decisively confront insecurity and economic hardship could spell political doom even with the backing of entrenched political structures.
“Rigging machines and party influence won’t save any leader who fails to secure lives and put food on the table. That’s the reality,” he said.
He further urged President Tinubu to confront the internal saboteurs within his administration, warning that the biggest threat to his presidency may not come from the opposition but from close allies who are enabling inaction and corruption.
“His real enemies are not the visible competitors. They are the people within his inner circle who prevent bold decisions and cover up failure,” Sambo said.
In a startling remark, the elder cited recent reports by the U.S. Congress allegedly implicating the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in funding activities linked to Boko Haram claims also recently echoed by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
“The government should stop pretending. These foreign elements that are reportedly undermining our security must be confronted with courage. We must protect our sovereignty at all costs,” he concluded.
Post a Comment