A respected Northern elder and public affairs analyst, Alhaji Dabo Sambo, has issued a stark warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to urgently address escalating insecurity in the North or risk suffering a political fate similar to that of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Sambo said growing banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings, particularly across the North-West and North-East, have not only endangered lives and livelihoods but are now pushing the country into deepening hunger and economic crisis.
“If President Tinubu refuses to wipe out the security challenges, he will definitely not win the 2027 election,” Sambo warned.
“We saw what happened to Jonathan. Nigerians voted him out because of insecurity. History could repeat itself.”
He emphasized that security and food security are now top priorities for voters—far above traditional campaign handouts.
“The era of carton noodles and salt distribution during campaigns is over. People want security and food. Without these, they will not vote.”
Sambo lamented that Nigeria’s major food-producing zones—the North-West and North-East, which account for over 60% of the nation’s agricultural output—have been crippled by armed groups. As a result, farmers are abandoning their lands, leading to reduced harvests, soaring prices, and widespread hunger.
“Food is scarce in Nigeria and people are hungry,” he said, linking the food crisis directly to the ravages of terrorism in rural communities.
Beyond agriculture, the Northern elder highlighted how insecurity is triggering economic instability, noting that rising transport costs, inflation, and currency depreciation are rapidly eroding household incomes across the country.
He urged President Tinubu to act decisively within the next six months to restore security and, within one year, take concrete steps to revive local farming, warning that any further delay would come at great political cost.
“This is not just about politics—it’s about survival. The government must act now,” Sambo concluded.