The National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress, accusing the federal government of indirectly strengthening terrorist and kidnapping networks through repeated ransom payments and weak security responses.
The opposition party, in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, said Nigeria’s worsening insecurity reflects a “systemic collapse of political will,” warning that the sanctity of human life in the country has been dangerously devalued.
According to the SDP, the government’s handling of insecurity has emboldened criminal groups, as ransom payments, negotiated settlements, and repeated amnesty arrangements have allegedly turned kidnapping into a thriving industry across the country.
“Human life in Nigeria today has been reduced to a bargaining chip,” the party said, arguing that bandits and armed groups now operate with increasing confidence due to what it described as inconsistent and reactive government policies.
The party painted a grim picture of nationwide insecurity, citing mass killings, village raids, school kidnappings, and widespread sexual violence allegedly perpetrated by armed groups across different regions. It further claimed that major highways have become unsafe, while rural communities are increasingly abandoned due to persistent attacks.
The SDP also criticised what it called “selective government attention” to insecurity, alleging that tragedies in remote communities often go unaddressed until violence nears the Federal Capital Territory.
Beyond insecurity, the opposition party referenced economic distress, citing rising poverty levels, unemployment, and declining living standards, which it linked to poor governance and corruption.
It argued that these conditions have worsened vulnerability to crime and instability nationwide.
The party insisted that Nigeria’s crisis is not due to lack of capacity but absence of decisive leadership, accusing the APC-led federal government of failing to demonstrate the political will required to decisively confront terrorism and banditry.
It further alleged that government responses have included negotiation with criminals, granting of amnesties, and failure to protect victims and vulnerable communities, describing the approach as counterproductive.
Amid the criticism, the SDP positioned itself as a national alternative, declaring readiness to lead what it called a “rescue mission” to restore security, strengthen institutions, and rebuild public trust in governance.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the party announced the beginning of a nationwide mobilisation effort under a proposed “Nigerian People’s Movement,” aimed at rallying citizens across regions to demand political change.
The SDP urged Nigerians to reject continuity politics, insisting that the country cannot afford what it described as another cycle of failed leadership, and called for what it termed a “total democratic reset” at the polls.
It concluded that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads, warning that failure to act decisively in 2027 could deepen insecurity, poverty, and national disillusionment.
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