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Tinubu should flush out terrorists or quit – Adebayo
From Ndubuisi Orji and Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has said that it is only active participation of the citizens in the electioneering process that will save the country’s democracy.
Amaechi stated this at the 2025 Electoral Reforms Summit, with the theme, “Critical Constitutional Amendments for Credible Election in 2027,” organised by the National Consultative Front/Labour and Civil Society Front, in collaboration with the Movement for Credible Elections, yesterday, in Abuja.
The former Minister, who noted that without citizens’ participation in the political process, electoral reforms would remain a mirage, stated that anyone waiting for the government to champion the reforms in the electoral process may just be wasting his or her time.
According to him, “Citizens’ participation will stop those who don’t want reforms. Will the government give you reforms? No, the government will not give you reforms. Don’t wait for the NLC. There is no NLC. I hear their members are somewhere here. There is no ASUU. There are no NANS.
“If you call NLC for any action, that’s when they will know they are from North or from South or from East or from West. It’s not going to be easy. And please, stop electing people that you will complain after. If you want to elect people, elect people you can hold accountable.
“The problem with Nigeria is lack of accountability. Somebody can come in and shoot you and nothing will happen. Absolutely nothing will happen. We will know the person and nothing will happen. It’s not that we lack law. What we lack is the rule of law. There are laws, national assembly, state assembly, passed laws here and there, but nothing is happening.
“So, I will repeat exactly what I said yesterday. If you are waiting for the government to make any reform, you are wasting your time. Before an election, there must be resistance to those who don’t want a proper election. If you do it after the election, you are also wasting your time. We must agree as a people that we must resist.”
He added: “If you come out en masse, nobody will write any result; nobody will take away the result sheet, because anybody who takes away the result sheet is probably going to cause confusion for himself.”
The former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, while speaking at the event, called for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be granted prosecutorial powers on election issues.
Ezekwesili, while canvassing for the electronic transmission of election results, also called for reforms in the appointment of the chairman of INEC.
She said: “The absence of any credible investigation and conviction for electoral offences has led to a country where there is no deterrence for bad behaviour. As a matter of fact, that gap is the reason that people repeat the behaviours that infringe fraudulently on our electoral system and democracy.
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“Granting INEC its own prosecutorial unit or guaranteed access to dedicated prosecutors would ensure timely action against electoral violations.
“We must reform the process for appointing INEC commissioners and the chairman to ensure merit-based selection with input from civil society, reducing partisan influence. We need to stagger the appointments in order to prevent wholesale replacement by one administration.
“We need to create a career structure within INEC with proper training requirements and job security for permanent staff, reducing reliance on ad-hoc workers during the elections.”
The former Minister, while decrying situations where the outcomes of election results are determined by the courts, called for expedited resolution of electoral disputes.
Also speaking at the event, Prince Adewole Adebayo, former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), criticised President Bola Tinubu over the worsening security situation in the country.
“President Tinubu must either use the bullets to end insecurity or use the pen to resign,” Adebayo declared.
He accused the Federal Government of turning insecurity into a “money-making venture,” asserting that the military had the capacity to defeat terrorists and bandits if given free rein.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces can protect the whole of West Africa if you allow them,” Adebayo said. “But, they can’t even protect their own barracks when politicians tie their hands.”
He challenged President Tinubu to act decisively within 30 days, insisting that Nigeria’s security could be restored if there was political will.
He also reacted to recent comments by the US President, Donald Trump, on Nigeria’s security challenges, commending Trump’s concern while cautioning Nigerians against politicising the remarks.
“Trump seems more mindful of Nigeria’s challenges than some of our leaders. Our government should be ashamed,” Adebayo added.
