The Breaking Point: Presidency On Trial For Insecurity, Economic Hardship, and the Growing Revolt of the Nigerian People.

Let me begin with the African proverb which says “The tree that provides shade does not eat its own fruits. True leadership exists to serve others, not itself.”Nigerians are inundated with unending incidents of the myriad of challenges plaguing our country, specifically on the gross leadership failures of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Failures with empirical evidences of escalating insecurity crisis marked by widespread protests, terrorism, banditry, and the tragic loss of lives, particularly school children and teachers. It also highlights the calamitous and severe food inflation and the resulting economic hardship and hunger. As it is often said in local palace, “until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”

It is ironic that Nigeria, a nation once brimming with the promise of a giant, now finds itself ensnared in a narrative of despair, where the hunter’s tale of progress rings hollow against the silent screams of the hunted.

The very fabric of our collective existence is being stretched to a breaking point, revealing a hidden truth: the leadership meant to protect, guard and guide us has become the architect of our undoing.

Amongst many of the unfolding reports; consider the tale of Mama Musa, a petty trader in Kaduna, whose small farm was her family’s lifeline. One dawn, the familiar sounds of her village were replaced by the chilling echoes of gunfire. Bandits, emboldened by a pervasive sense of impunity, swept through, razing homes, abducting many including children, and leaving a trail of unspeakable horror. Mama Musa’s eldest daughter, a bright-eyed girl named Sadatu, was among those taken. Her story is not unique; it is a recurring nightmare playing out across our nation, a stark metaphor for a government that has lost its grip, leaving its citizens to the mercy of predators. This isn’t just a story of loss; it’s a testament to a systemic failure that has turned once-thriving communities into ghost towns, proving that the state’s primary duty which is the protection of its people has been tragically abdicated.

The current administration, under President Tinubu, inherited a nation grappling with complex issues, yet its tenure has been marked by a profound exacerbation of these challenges, revealing a disturbing pattern of policy incoherence and a systemic failure to address the root causes of our distress. His initial promise of renewed hope has dissolved into a bitter reality of unfulfilled expectations and deepening crises which has culminated in ‘renewed hopelessness’. Our security apparatus, once a symbol of national might, now appears overwhelmed and under-resourced, allowing terrorism and banditry to flourish with audacious impunity. The most ironic incident currently on the burner is the beheading of a teacher in Oyo State, the abduction of dozens of schoolchildren in Oriire, and the continuous reports of citizens tortured and killed in captivity are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a state that has lost its monopoly on violence and its capacity to protect its most vulnerable.

Economically, the reality is worse. The nation is in a state of profound disarray. Fuel subsidy removal, while touted as a necessary reform, has unleashed a torrent of inflationary pressures, particularly on food prices as Nigeria is a oetro-naira dependant economy. Our nation has consistently experienced double-digit inflation for over a decade, with food inflation reaching alarming levels, pushing millions into acute food insecurity. The fuel subsidy removal alone pushed over 33million Nigerians into the multidimensional poverty line. As at the time I was penning this article, the World Bank reports that domestic food price inflation remained moderately high between January and March 2026, indicating a slight deterioration in the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians. The FAO further projects that nearly 35 million Nigerians could face severe hunger by late-2026, a grim testament to the economic policies that have failed to cushion the blow for the common man. This economic downturn is not merely a statistical anomaly; it is a lived reality of hunger, suffering, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness that permeates every household.

The ongoing crisis in Nigeria is not merely a series of unfortunate events; it is the predictable outcome of a leadership that prioritizes political maneuvering over genuine governance, and short-term gains over long-term stability. The pattern is clear: a disconnect between policy formulation and ground-level realities, a failure to anticipate the cascading effects of economic decisions, and a disturbing lack of urgency in addressing existential threats. This administration’s approach has been characterized by a mix of threats, violent repression, propaganda, and co-optation, rather than genuine engagement with the populace. The global implications are stark; a destabilized Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, poses a significant risk to regional security and economic stability. The international community watches with bated breath as a nation with immense potential teeters on the brink, a consequence of internal decay amplified by a leadership seemingly unwilling or unable to steer the ship away from the rocks while basking on the euphoria of itself made cesspool of corruption.

Nigerians can longer deny the truth. The problems we are facing are systemic: a leadership vacuum, a compromised security architecture, a leadership which is ready to borrow the country to oblivion and an economic policy framework that punishes the poor. In my opinion, the solutions available to us must be equally comprehensive and decisive. For instance there is the imperative of security sector reform. This should be beyond the current rhetoric. Nigeria needs a complete overhaul of the security forces, focusing on intelligence-led operations, technology driven operations, community policing (State Police), and accountability for failures. This must also include transparent investigations into security breaches and swift justice for perpetrators of violence. On the economy, immediate measures to stabilize the naira and bring it below ₦400/$; the control of inflation, and implementation of targeted social safety nets, without corruption, are crucial. This requires a shift from theoretical economic models to practical interventions that directly alleviate the suffering of the masses, including direct food aid and agricultural support for small-scale farmers howbeit after providing security for farmers to be able to go back to their farms. Furthermore, there is need for renewed commitment to transparency, anti-corruption measures, and judicial independence. That’s to say, leaders must be held accountable for their actions and inactions, fostering a culture of responsibility.

Nigerians also need to create Citizen-Led Security Initiatives. That’s is empowering and formally integrating local vigilante groups and community defense networks, providing them with training, weapons and oversight, to complement conventional security forces. This will leverage local knowledge and builds trust, creating a more resilient defense against non-state actors. President Tinubu should also consider investing in and empowering regional economic hubs with significant autonomy to develop localized solutions for food production, processing, and distribution, reducing reliance on centralized, vulnerable supply chains. This shall foster regional self-sufficiency and resilience against national economic shocks. I also think that establishing a national truth and reconciliation commission to address historical grievances, foster healing, and build a foundation for genuine national unity, thereby undermining the ethnic and religious divisions often exploited by criminal elements.

The aforementioned and more are urgent measures President Tinubu should urgently consider, because the current trajectory of his government is unsustainable and will lead to certain doom. The echoes of Mama Musa’s pain, the gnawing hunger in millions of homes, and the relentless drumbeat of insecurity are not merely challenges to be managed; they are a clarion call for a fundamental shift. The time for incremental adjustments is over. The very soul of Nigeria demands a leadership that is not just present, but profoundly effective, morally upright, and genuinely committed to its people. Until such leadership emerges, the call for Tinubu’s resignation is not merely a political slogan; it is the desperate plea of a nation teetering on the brink, a prophetic warning that if the hunter continues to fail, the hunted will rise, and rewrite their own story. Enough is enough.

Joachim Okhai writes from Lagos.
e-mail: joachimokhai1@gmail.com