Former presidential candidate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has accused the Federal Government of failing to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity with the seriousness it deserves, warning that the country risks descending into deeper chaos if urgent steps are not taken.
Hashim criticised what he described as the administration’s “shamefully political and dangerously unserious” response to the wave of terrorist and bandit attacks ravaging different parts of the country.
“The government treats the blood of innocent Nigerians like a campaign statistic,” he said in a statement issued at the weekend. “Instead of confronting terrorists and bandits, they are busy issuing statements and blaming imaginary enemies. Governance is not propaganda.”
He alleged that the ruling party appeared more focused on political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections than on securing the nation.
“The APC is more interested in securing PDP governors ahead of 2027 than securing Nigeria. Rather than uniting the country, the party is pitching the South against the North,” he stated.
Hashim, a global energy entrepreneur, linked the recent decision by the United States to consider placing Nigeria on a religious and security watchlist to what he termed the government’s failure to act decisively against terrorism.
“While Nigeria does not have a state policy of genocide or persecution against any group, the levity with which the government has handled terrorist activities should worry every decent human being, not only Americans,” he warned.
According to him, the continued politicisation of national security could allow terrorist networks to establish parallel governments in parts of the North before the next general election.
“Too many politicians are dancing around 2027, ignoring the fire already consuming the nation,” Hashim cautioned. “If this continues, the context for elections may not even exist when the time comes.”
He also faulted the current fiscal direction of the Tinubu administration, describing the growing number of taxes and levies as “a punishment on already suffering citizens.”
“When people can’t eat or live in dignity, social violence becomes inevitable,” he said. “You can’t tax hunger out of poverty; you only create more chaos.”
Hashim urged the Federal Government to reform the national security architecture, address the economic roots of violence, and rally citizens around a unified national recovery plan.
“We must save Nigeria now. Delay is dangerous. This is not about politics anymore; it is about the survival of our nation,” he concluded.
