Senator Adams Oshiomhole has advised President Bola Tinubu to make tackling insecurity his foremost priority ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that security remains the administration’s biggest political challenge despite ongoing economic reforms.
The former Edo State governor and senator representing Edo North gave the advice during an interview on Beyond the Headlines on Channels TV, where he identified insecurity as the major issue the President must confront before seeking another mandate.
Asked what counsel he would offer Tinubu ahead of the next election cycle, Oshiomhole said the President should intensify efforts to ensure the armed forces deliver measurable improvements in the country’s security situation.
“I would tell him to do everything he can to direct the armed forces, to ensure that the service chiefs understand that they have a duty to terminate insecurity within the next few months,” he said.
He stressed that security agencies should be held accountable through clear performance benchmarks.
“There has to be a benchmark to measure what we give them, and the result that we get with that is commensurate.”
According to Oshiomhole, the Federal Government has already implemented key macroeconomic reforms, but persistent insecurity continues to undermine their impact.
“Once the security is fixed, see, the president has put all the necessary macroeconomic tools in place. The only limiting factor is this insecurity.”
While acknowledging that the security crisis could not be resolved overnight, the former governor said Nigerians expected sustained and deliberate action from the government.
“Unfortunately, again, it’s an issue that has reached a certain stage that you cannot now terminate it overnight. But Nigerians want to see consistent, deliberate effort.”
Oshiomhole also backed a tougher approach against violent criminals, saying security personnel should not hesitate to confront armed offenders.
“If you see a criminal, shoot at sight.”
He commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for appealing a court judgment that commuted the sentences of some convicts from death to life imprisonment.
“The DSS is doing their job. They have appealed the judgment that people who should be condemned to death were given life imprisonment. I have said that judges should permit the law, not their personal sentiment.”
The senator further praised ongoing efforts by the military, citing increased operations by the Nigerian Air Force, the creation of additional Army divisions and fresh recruitment into the armed forces as evidence of the President’s determination to strengthen national security.
“We are beginning to see the Air Force more engaged. The Army, we have created more divisions… another recruitment of additional 20,000 men into the armed forces. All of that reflects a president that wants the game to change as quickly as possible.”
Oshiomhole maintained that decisive progress in addressing insecurity would strengthen public confidence in the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 elections.
(The Sun)
