Northern elder and public affairs analyst, Alhaji Dabo Sambo, has directly warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently confront insecurity and banditry in northern Nigeria or risk losing the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking to journalists, Sambo identified insecurity as the most severe threat to the nation, claiming it continually endangers both lives and property. He stressed that a government’s core responsibility is to provide security and stability, and he cautioned that Tinubu’s failure to do so could cost him a second term.
Sambo blamed the widespread hunger and food scarcity on the worsening security situation, especially in the North-East and North-West—regions that produce over 60% of Nigeria’s food. He said armed groups, kidnappers, and terrorists have driven farmers off their lands, leading to a steep decline in agricultural output and surging food prices.
He further linked insecurity to economic instability, pointing to the weakening naira, soaring transport costs, and rampant inflation as signs that Nigerians are suffering under current conditions.
Calling for immediate action, Sambo urged President Tinubu to eliminate insecurity within six months and revive agriculture within a year. He warned that Tinubu could suffer the same fate as former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose failure to handle insecurity led to his 2015 electoral defeat.
“The days of winning votes by handing out noodles and salt are gone,” Sambo declared. “Nigerians now demand food security and safety. Without these, they will not vote.”
Although Sambo dismissed Tinubu’s opponents as lacking credible solutions for Nigeria’s challenges, he insisted that Tinubu must address the root causes of violence and economic decline. He argued that even electoral manipulation would not guarantee re-election if the president ignores the crisis.
Sambo urged Tinubu to confront saboteurs within his administration, stating that internal inaction on security and food production poses a greater threat than any external opposition.
He also referenced claims from the U.S. Congress and Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, alleging that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported Boko Haram. Sambo called on the Nigerian government to stop denying these allegations and tackle international interference directly.
