Mr. President, Crush Insecurity Now Or Risk the Fate of Jonathan

OPINION | OUR NATION NIGERIA

By Mazi Onyeani Kalu

Political Scientist & Custodian of Ancient Wisdom

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stood before the Nigerian people on May 29, 2023, he pledged to secure the nation, unleash its economic potential, and restore hope. Today, that vision stands threatened , not just by inflation or subsidy adjustments , but by a far more dangerous and corrosive force: insecurity.

From Zamfara to Enugu, Plateau to Abuja, the headlines are too familiar. Bandits, kidnappers, unknown gunmen, and insurgents continue to spill blood and terror across our land. What began as isolated flashes of violence has now hardened into a systematic threat to national unity and government legitimacy.

This moment calls for truth , not flattery. If President Tinubu does not decisively and visibly crush insecurity, he risks walking the same political path that brought down former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Ghost of 2015 Is Back

It was insecurity ,not the economy , that ultimately unraveled Jonathan’s presidency. As Boko Haram ravaged the North-East and over 200 girls were taken from Chibok, the perception of a government that had lost control began to spread. The opposition weaponized it. The media amplified it. International partners withdrew confidence. And the people, understandably desperate, voted for change.

Today, that same pattern is returning.

If care is not taken, the very forces that sabotaged Jonathan’s administration will attempt to paint Tinubu with the same brush: a government unable to protect its citizens.

The tragic irony? Many of these threats are not organic. They are coordinated. Funded. Sometimes politically engineered. Nigeria’s history has shown that violence is often a prelude to electoral disruption , and those who cannot win through the ballot often seek chaos to erode trust in institutions.

Mr. President, This Is a Political War

Insecurity is not just a military problem. It is a political assault on your mandate. And it must be met with force, strategy, and urgency.

This is what must be done now:

1. Purge and Reform the Security Architecture: The rot within is real. The time has come to retire the old guard, promote fearless commanders, and bring in a new wave of leadership that understands both the battlefield and 21st-century counter-terrorism.

   
   

2. Declare a State of Security Emergency: Enough of closed-door meetings. Nigeria must know her President is at war for her soul. Mobilize resources, streamline command structures, and show the nation that Abuja is fully engaged.

   
   

3. Invest in Intelligence and Surveillance: Technology must become our frontline. Drones, satellite imaging, and predictive data systems should replace outdated checkpoint culture. We cannot win this war with analog methods in a digital age.

   
   

4. Name and Shame Internal Saboteurs: The enemies of Nigeria wear both rags and ranks. Any officer or official found aiding criminals must be exposed and punished , publicly. This is no time for quiet transfers or diplomatic cover-ups.

   
   

5. Galvanize the Nigerian People: Insecurity must become everyone’s fight. Religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and student unions must be mobilized to report, resist, and rise. National unity must be weaponized against national sabotage.

The Political Price of Delay

Mr. President, Nigerians are watching. The same voices that carried you into power , North and South , are beginning to murmur. And as 2027 creeps closer, the vultures of political opportunism are circling. Every failure to protect lives is fuel for their fire. Every act of restraint is read as weakness.

The Tinubu administration cannot afford to let insecurity become its Achilles heel.

The economy can recover. Elections can be won. But once the people lose faith in the state’s ability to keep them safe, the entire social contract collapses.

This is a defining moment. History is waiting.

Crush insecurity now, Mr. President , or risk becoming another cautionary tale.

© 2025 Mazi Onyeani Kalu. All rights reserved.

For syndication or reprint inquiries, contact: onyeanikalu108@gmail.com