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File: House of Representatives

The minority caucus of the House of Representatives on Wednesday delivered a scathing assessment of the state of the nation, accusing the government of President Bola Tinubu of failing to tackle worsening insecurity, deepening economic hardship and mounting threats to democratic institutions.

The opposition lawmakers also alleged that the administration was focusing on political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than addressing the pressing challenges facing Nigerians.

Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Minority Leader of the House, Mr Fred Agbedi, said the country was facing one of its most difficult periods since the return to democratic rule in 1999, citing persistent insecurity, rising poverty and growing public frustration.

“Nigeria is bleeding, Nigeria is confused and Nigeria is being deliberately pushed to the brink by a government that has elevated 2027 electioneering above the lives and welfare of citizens,” Agbedi declared.

He said the caucus convened the press conference “with a heavy heart but with unshaken resolve to speak truth to power,” stressing that remaining silent amid the country’s challenges would amount to complicity.

The opposition lawmakers argued that three years into the Tinubu administration, Nigerians were yet to see significant improvements in security and economic conditions despite repeated assurances from government officials.

A major focus of the briefing was the recent death of retired Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, who was reportedly abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State before dying in captivity.

The lawmakers described the incident as a tragic reflection of the deteriorating security situation across the country and called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“That a General of the Nigerian Army, who once commanded troops and defended this nation, could be kidnapped alongside his wife and later declared dead under unclear circumstances is a grave indictment of a failed state. It is a national embarrassment,” Agbedi added.

The caucus noted that the killing came amid a wave of attacks by bandits, terrorists and criminal gangs across several parts of the country, including the North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-East.

The lawmakers recalled that security personnel, traditional rulers and ordinary citizens had increasingly become targets of kidnappers and armed groups, despite sustained military operations.

“If a General is not safe within the borders of our nation, then who truly is?” Agbedi asked.

He lamented what he described as the vulnerability of community leaders and traditional rulers who have become frequent targets of criminal elements.

“Our security is in the mud. Yet, the political class is busy rehearsing new political dance steps, seemingly unbothered,” he added.

The caucus urged Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to immediately present a comprehensive security strategy capable of addressing the multifaceted threats confronting the country.

“At a period in our nation’s long-drawn battle with these insurgents, victory was close by, especially with the presence of mercenaries in the frontlines. Today, no one is sure what the strategy, if any, is,” Agbedi stated.

They also demanded improved welfare for security personnel, enhanced intelligence gathering and a complete overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.

The lawmakers expressed concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo state, describing the development as another example of the state’s inability to guarantee the safety of its citizens.

“As we speak, school children and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria,” Agbedi said.

The caucus called for an immediate and coordinated rescue operation by security agencies, warning that prolonged captivity could expose the victims to grave dangers.

The incident, they argued, evoked painful memories of previous mass abductions of students across the country, which have continued to raise concerns about the safety of schools despite government efforts under the Safe Schools Initiative.

The minority caucus also raised concerns over what it described as troubling developments within the judiciary, particularly a Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five opposition political parties.

According to Agbedi, the ruling raises serious questions about the health of Nigeria’s democracy and could undermine political pluralism ahead of future elections.

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