SDP’s Adebayo blames Tinubu’s failures for killings in Benue and plateau States

…Says FG monopolizing security at detriment of Governors
…Calls for immediate establishment of State Police

By Chris Ochayi

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in the 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has attributed the renewed killings in Plateau and Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsman to the failures of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He called on President Tinubu to redirect and restrategize the country’s security architecture in order to address the devastating insecurity situation across the country.

Speaking to journalists in an interview during his wife, Queen Lilian’s 50th birthday celebration held at Los Angeles Event Center, on Monday in Abuja, Prince Adewale said Mr. President has not taken the issue of society seriously.

He expressed concern about the ugly development, saying, “It is a disappointment what is happening in Plateau and Benue. I personally don’t like to politicise security. I think the president must be serious-minded and address the issue.”

He said, “Because we knew that these people don’t take governance seriously. They take elections seriously but not governance. The first duty of the President and the Commander-in-Chief is national security, and then the welfare of the people, the justice, the development, and the infrastructure.

“So iI personally do not like to politicize insecurity, because when there is an act of insecurity and you criticize the government in a way that can encourage terrorists and other criminals to think that they can influence our politics by committing more atrocities.

“But in this case, the incompetence of President Tinubu and his strategy team speaks for itself, and I think the President should come home and address the issues and they should look at the sequential architecture of the country and look at the governance.”

On the failures of the Governors to tackle the insecurity situation in their various states, the former Presidential candidate said the Governors themselves are victims of the insecurity because they don’t have control of security agencies operating in the states.

According to him, They are birds of the same feather, who flock together. When you discover the incompetence of the Presiden, the governors are. The President sing the solo. The governors sing the chorus with him. They are all singing bad songs.

They don’t know the mandate that they have. Have you not perceived their behavior? It’s just probably around town. So for the governors, why I don’t go to them first when it comes to security is that the acuement of politics is with them, but the paraphernalia of security is not with them.

“So it is when there’s a crisis in the state, the governor himself is a victim, because he is powerless. They are wasting a lot of money supporting Commissioner of Police, Director SS, Director of Civil Defense, but they have no authority to correct them on what to do.

“So I think the idea of having police at the lower level of government cannot be oversized, but we need to also improve the quality of the governors. Most of the governors are not serious people.

I know them personally. They don’t know the meaning of a government but when it comes to security they are handicapped because the federal government is monopolizing security and is not using them well”

Meanwhile, the politician has called on Nigerians to become the opposition themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections instead of relying on selected few or politicians to represent the views.

He said “What is happening in your household, in your community, that should dictate your politics. Nigerians need to know that we can be talking until the end of time.”

“If Nigerians don’t become the opposition themselves, and you are relying on the opposition, who are also politicians, it’s not everybody who is in a position that is on your side.

“So, the people of Nigeria themselves need to demand a change of government. And when that demand is there, the opposition that is credible will fill the differences there”

Speaking also, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP. Chief Peter Ameh said ongoing political realignment and quest for coalition is crucial in addressing Nigeria’s present situation.

According to him, “I think every gathering should also have a little bit of discussion about how Nigeria should move forward because the current suffering that Nigerians are expressing under this incompetent governance system is something that we must halt.

“As the people come to dialogue, whether we find ourselves in a place of celebration or worship, it’s very important that we look at Nigeria and discuss it.”

“There is hunger on the streets, Nigerians are facing depression, high tariffs in electricity and data and increase in everything since President Tinubu came into office. The cost of living has gone so high.”