Primate Ayodele Accuses Tinubu's Government of Lacking Guts to Combat Insecurity, Links Insurgency to Politician Exploitation

The Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu has been sharply criticized by Primate Elijah Ayodele, the spiritual leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, who alleges that the administration “doesn’t have the guts to fight insecurity.” Primate Ayodele asserts that the fundamental causes of persistent insurgency and insecurity across Nigeria are deeply rooted in the actions of politicians who have allegedly exploited armed groups for their own political and economic gain. He suggests that these politicians have historically utilized and empowered various factions, including cultists and militants, as instruments to achieve their objectives, thereby perpetuating a cycle of violence and instability. According to Ayodele, this reliance on clandestine or overtly armed groups by political actors is a primary driver of the ongoing security challenges that plague the nation, including but not limited to terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. He posits that until this nexus between politics and the empowerment of violent groups is severed, any efforts to combat insecurity will remain superficial and ultimately ineffective. The primate’s pronouncements highlight a long-standing concern within Nigerian civil society regarding the alleged complicity or instrumentalization of non-state armed actors by political elites. He implies that the current government, like its predecessors, may be hampered by the same entrenched political interests that benefit from or perpetuate the use of such groups, thus preventing decisive and effective action against insecurity. Ayodele’s statement, while direct and critical, serves as a call for a fundamental re-evaluation of the approach to national security, urging a focus on dismantling the political patronage networks that allegedly sustain armed conflicts rather than solely on military or law enforcement responses. His remarks are significant given his position as a prominent religious figure whose pronouncements often carry considerable weight and public attention in Nigeria. The primate’s assertion suggests that the political will to confront these deeply embedded issues is currently absent or insufficient within the Tinubu administration, casting a shadow over its ability to deliver on its promise of enhanced security for all Nigerians. This critique points towards a systemic problem that requires more than just operational adjustments in security forces; it demands a political reckoning with the past and a commitment to reform that addresses the very foundations of political power and influence in relation to armed groups. The core of his argument lies in the idea that insecurity is not merely a law enforcement issue, but a profoundly political one, driven by the self-serving machinations of politicians who have weaponized various segments of society for their own ends. Without addressing this political dimension, Ayodele implies, Nigeria will continue to grapple with the devastating consequences of insecurity, regardless of the government in power or the strategies it employs. The responsibility, therefore, lies not only with the security apparatus but also, and perhaps more critically, with the political class to disengage from and dismantle the networks that fuel Nigeria’s persistent insecurity. This perspective underscores the complex interplay between political governance, societal fragmentation, and the proliferation of armed non-state actors in Nigeria. According to GRV Stan.

GRV Stan: Just in: Tinubu’s govt doesn’t have guts to fight insecurity – Primate Ayodele According to him, the roots of insurgency in Nigeria stem from politicians who allegedly used armed groups for.. #breaking

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