PDP Faults Tinubu’s ‘Slow, Unempathetic’ Response to Kebbi, Niger, Kwara Abductions
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek urgent assistance locally or internationally or resign from office as Nigeria battles a resurgence of kidnappings and violent attacks across several northern states.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the recent abduction of students in Kebbi and Niger states, as well as worshippers in Kwara, exposes what he called the Federal Government’s growing inability to contain the country’s escalating security crisis.
Ememobong accused the Tinubu administration of failing in its primary constitutional duty to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.
“We again remind President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the entire APC-led administration that the security of lives and property is the primary function of any government,” he said. “When a government becomes unwilling, unable, or incapable of carrying out this role, it must either seek help or honourably resign.”
The PDP spokesman criticised both state and federal authorities for shutting down schools in response to the kidnappings, arguing that such measures amount to conceding victory to terrorists. He warned that the move would further worsen the North’s already severe education deficit, citing UNICEF’s report that most of Nigeria’s 18.3 million out-of-school children are in the region.
According to Ememobong, the Federal Government has yet to deliver a coordinated response despite multiple mass abductions recorded within a single week. He described the presidency’s approach as slow, politically driven, and lacking empathy.
He also faulted the President for delegating the situation to the Minister of State for Defence instead of visiting affected communities himself.
“More troubling is the fact that when these unfortunate incidents happen, the administration’s response is usually lacklustre and unempathetic,” he said. “Instead of visiting Kebbi and Niger to meet parents of the abducted children and address security personnel, the President merely directed the Minister of State for Defence to relocate to Kebbi.”
The opposition party insisted that urgent, decisive action is needed to prevent the deepening insecurity from further destabilising the country.
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