Ex-Presidential Aide Urges Tinubu to Sack Underperforming Security Chiefs Amid Rising Violence
By Nexio News | June 10, 2024
A former presidential spokesperson, Laolu Akande, has called on Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu to take swift action against security and military chiefs failing to curb the country’s escalating violence. Speaking during his My Take segment on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Akande warned that persistent insecurity is eroding public trust and overshadowing the administration’s policy achievements.
Insecurity Threatens Governance
Akande acknowledged Tinubu’s economic and social reforms but stressed that unchecked bloodshed is undermining progress. “When lives are lost daily, fear takes over, and no policy can thrive in such an environment,” he said. “Justice and security must be the foundation of governance—without them, everything else collapses.”
Recent months have seen a surge in attacks across multiple states, including Borno, Benue, Plateau, Niger, and Kaduna. One of the deadliest incidents was the assault on a military base in Benisheikh, which claimed the life of Brigadier General Oseni Braimo and destroyed critical defense assets. In March alone, three commanding officers were killed in separate attacks—a troubling trend signaling deliberate targeting of military leadership.
“The number of killings this year is alarming,” Akande said. “There’s too much bloodshed, too much destruction. Who will tell the President that this cannot continue?”
Intelligence Failures and Unkept Promises
Akande criticized intelligence lapses, citing claims by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum that security agencies had prior warnings about the Benisheikh attack but failed to act. “We knew it was coming, yet nothing was done,” he stated.
He also referenced an incident in Kebbi State, where troops were reportedly withdrawn just before a deadly raid—an echo of systemic coordination failures. Renewed banditry in Niger and Plateau states has further exposed gaps in security strategies, despite Tinubu’s earlier assurances of tighter control.
Call for Accountability
The former presidential aide urged Tinubu to enforce accountability, reminding him of his past critiques of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of security challenges. “The President must impose consequences,” Akande insisted. “If a service chief cannot deliver, they should be replaced immediately.”
Akande’s remarks come amid growing frustration over Nigeria’s security crisis. While Tinubu has pledged to address the situation, critics argue that decisive leadership—not just rhetoric—is needed to restore stability.
“The President cannot ignore these failures any longer,” Akande warned. “The time for action is now.”
— Reported by Nexio News
