The Obidient Movement Worldwide has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, calling it a “belated reaction” and a continuation of what they described as “government indifference” to persistent insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on the Frontline programme aired on Eagle 102.5 FM, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, criticised Tinubu’s visit as “too little, too late,” following the killing of no fewer than 147 people in Yelewata, Benue State, on Friday, June 13, 2025.
“For us in the Obidient Movement, this is a belated visit,” Tanko declared. “These attacks have become far too common — in Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, and Benue. Yet, the government never acts until blood has soaked the soil.”
Tanko faulted the federal government’s response pattern, accusing it of showing up with food palliatives after communities have been devastated by violence.
“Noodles is not the solution to insecurity,” he said. “When Nigerians are being slaughtered, the government arrives late with cartons of food. Is that how to value human life?”
The activist also questioned the lack of accountability following the Benue massacre.
“Has anyone been arrested? Has anyone asked why these attacks continue happening? The victims are barely heard. It feels like there’s something going on in the shadows Nigerians are not being told.”
Tanko reacted to recent remarks by Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who described the funding for Nigeria’s security as a “national embarrassment,” saying the comment only exposed how unprepared the government is.
“If your own Minister admits your security budget is a joke, what then are you doing in office?” he asked. “This is a government that came in without any serious plan.”
Tanko traced Nigeria’s insecurity to successive administrations, blaming the current and past governments for failing to uproot the crisis from its roots.
“The Boko Haram insurgency didn’t start with Tinubu. It was active under Jonathan, escalated under Buhari, and now has turned into a monster. Nobody ever truly dealt with it.”
He accused Tinubu of coming into power without a detailed strategy to end terrorism and banditry.
“We warned them. You don’t assume office with vibes. You come with vision and blueprint. Unfortunately, this government is doing trial and error,” he said.
The Obidient Movement leader urged President Tinubu to declare a national state of emergency on security, saying the lives of Nigerians should not be sacrificed on the altar of political rhetoric.
“Every day we hear of killings in Benue, Borno, Taraba. Whether it’s one person or a hundred, the country must act. There’s nothing wrong in declaring a security emergency in a state or even nationwide.”
Tanko didn’t stop at security. He also took aim at President Tinubu’s June 12 Democracy Day address, accusing him of wearing a democratic mask while enabling autocratic control.
“That speech was hollow. You can’t praise democracy while destroying opposition parties and manipulating institutions,” he said.
“A true democrat defends dissent. Tinubu enjoys the chaos within parties — he even said so himself. But let me warn him, it will soon hit APC.”
Tanko further urged the international community to place Nigeria under a democratic watchlist, alleging that the Tinubu administration is steering the nation toward authoritarianism.
“The world must pay attention. What we are witnessing here is the slow death of democracy. And we must not be silent,” he said.
He called on civil society, the media, and Nigerians across all sectors to rise and resist any attempt to stifle freedom.
“Democracy is not the job of politicians alone. It belongs to all of us. When we keep quiet, tyranny takes over,” he warned.
