The Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s newly declared nationwide security emergency, arguing that the government is approaching the crisis from the wrong angle.
Speaking on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed said the administration’s emphasis on mass recruitment into the security forces overlooks the core problem—corruption within Nigeria’s security institutions. According to him, the country does not suffer from a shortage of personnel but from entrenched corruption that diverts resources and undermines operations.
“It is not about numbers. It is about reducing corruption in the war against insecurity,” he said, questioning how much of the current security budget is being deployed to combat terrorism compared to what goes into private pockets or future political campaigns.
Baba-Ahmed insisted that if freed from political interference and corrupt practices, the Nigeria Police Force alone could end terrorism and banditry “within two months.” He argued that the security agencies are capable but weakened by internal compromises.
His remarks follow President Tinubu’s directive for a major expansion of the Armed Forces and Police, including the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers, bringing the total expected intake to 50,000.
The President also advised states to reconsider establishing boarding schools in remote, poorly secured regions—a recommendation prompted by a series of mass kidnappings in Niger, Kebbi, and other states.
However, Baba-Ahmed rejected the idea outright, warning that relocating or reducing rural schools would amount to surrendering national policy to criminal groups. He described the proposal as “deadly” and “wrong,” arguing that education in rural communities must be strengthened, not restricted.
“We in the educational world are fighting a war on behalf of the country, and it’s as good as what the armed forces are doing,” he said. “Remote or populated, continue to build schools.”
His comments come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with rising attacks, widespread kidnappings, and increasing threats to rural education—raising urgent questions about the direction and effectiveness of the nation’s security strategy.
