The Senator representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise tackling security challenges in the country instead of focusing on the 2027 election.
The Ndume made this call in a statement on Tuesday, following the explosions that rocked certain areas of the Maiduguri metropolis on Monday.
The explosions linked to the terrorist group, Boko Haram, led to the death of 23 people.
Reacting to the development, Ndume urged Tinubu to play down the politics of 2027 and focus on governance, particularly the security of lives and property and the welfare of the citizenry.
The lawmaker lamented that the government has abandoned the masses in pursuit of politics, stressing that a strongly worded statement is not enough.
Ndume further called on security agencies to investigate the incident to identify those responsible for the explosions.
He said, “We seem to have abandoned the people for politics. The people that will vote are dying.
“President Tinubu should concentrate on governance. He should address the safety of Nigerians and their welfare first.
“If there is no improvement in their welfare and security, the government becomes their enemy.
“He should walk his talk on this emergency on security. The people should see that he is addressing their welfare.
“We are in a state of emergency, and he should be seen to be addressing the scary security situation convincingly.
“Perpetrators of the Maiduguri bombings must be arrested in relation to the explosions. I learned that one of the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) was detonated from a tricycle. That must have been registered with the relevant authority, and the investigation will expose the owner, and that may help in identifying those behind the explosions.
“It is not enough to put up a strongly worded press statement. What has happened in Borno and other states in terms of the number of deaths and injuries recorded calls for national mourning.
“If President Tinubu can’t visit Borno, he should send Vice President Kashim Shettima to really assure Nigerians that he cares about their plights”