The minority caucus of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said Nigeria is being deliberately pushed to the brink by a government more focused on the 2027 elections than on the lives of its citizens.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Minority Leader Fred Agbedi declared that the country faces one of its worst periods since 1999, with 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 said.
The lawmakers said three years into President Bola Tinubu's administration, Nigerians haven't seen significant improvements in security or the economy despite repeated assurances from officials.
A key example they pointed to was the recent death of Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd). The former army general was abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State and died in captivity. The caucus called it a national embarrassment and demanded a transparent investigation.
“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,” Agbedi said.
He added: “If a General isn't safe within the borders of our nation, then who truly is?”
The lawmakers noted that bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs are attacking across the North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South-East. Security personnel, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens have become regular targets despite sustained military operations.
Agbedi said the government hasn't presented a clear security strategy. He recalled a time when victory against insurgents seemed close, especially with mercenaries on the frontlines, but said no one is sure what the current strategy is.
The caucus demanded improved welfare for security personnel, better intelligence gathering, and a complete overhaul of the security architecture.
They also raised alarm over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State. Agbedi said their only crime was going to school in Nigeria. He called for an immediate and coordinated rescue operation, warning that prolonged captivity could endanger the victims.
The opposition lawmakers also criticised a Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties. They said the ruling, coming months before general elections, threatens political pluralism and democracy.
Agbedi said the caucus convened the press conference with a heavy heart but with unshaken resolve to speak truth to power. He stressed that remaining silent amid the country's challenges would amount to complicity.