A prominent northern elder and political commentator, Dabo Sambo, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu: tackle insecurity now or risk losing the 2027 presidential election.
Addressing journalists in Kaduna, Sambo described the escalating insecurity and banditry in northern Nigeria as the greatest threat to both national stability and the president’s political future.
“If President Tinubu refuses to wipe out the security challenges, he will definitely not win the 2027 election,” he said.
He linked widespread hunger and economic hardship to the violent conditions in the North-East and North-West—regions that produce over 60% of Nigeria’s food. As farmers abandon their land out of fear for their lives, food production has plummeted, leading to soaring prices and worsening poverty.
“Food is scarce in Nigeria and people are hungry,” Sambo lamented. “Without security, there can be no farming. And without food, there will be no votes.”
He warned that unless the president acts decisively to restore security within six months and revive local agriculture within a year, public anger could mirror the sentiment that unseated former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
“The era of carton noodles and salt distribution during campaigns is over,” Sambo declared. “People want security and food. Without these, they will not vote.”
Sambo criticized the economic fallout from insecurity, citing a weakened naira, high transport costs, and inflation that has eroded the savings of average Nigerians. He argued that Tinubu’s biggest obstacle isn’t his political opponents—but internal complacency and failure to act.
“The real enemies are not outside. They’re within his circle. If he doesn’t act now, even rigging won’t save him,” he said.
In a striking addition, Sambo referenced recent claims from the U.S. Congress and Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, alleging that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was linked to indirect funding of Boko Haram. He urged the Nigerian government to stop “pretending” and begin confronting international meddling directly.
While he dismissed Tinubu’s known political rivals as lacking credible alternatives, Sambo insisted that the president must rise to the occasion or face a historic political fall.
“The people are watching. Nigeria has moved beyond sentiments. If Tinubu wants to survive 2027, he must give the people safety and food—nothing else will count.”
