President Bola Tinubu’s administration has come under sharp criticism from the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), which accused the president of lacking empathy and decisive leadership in the face of national crisis.
CISLAC faulted Tinubu’s silence and absence during a period when, according to the group, Nigerians are desperate for healing and direction, insisting that true leadership requires presence and responsiveness, especially in times of turmoil.
CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, in a statement reacting to the killings in Benue, Plateau and other states, criticised Tinubu’s administration saying: “At a time when the nation is crying out for healing and direction, the president’s silence and physical absence are both unacceptable and morally troubling. Leadership is not just about holding office; it is about being present in times of peace and, more importantly, in times of crisis.”
Rafsanjani stated: “Easter is meant to be a time of deep reflection, not just for individuals but for leaders as well. Yet, for millions of Nigerians, it has become a painful reminder of lives cut short, families shattered, and a country steadily descending into insecurity, economic hardship, and official indifference”.
The organization condemned the ongoing wave of violence, citing attacks in Benue and Plateau states that claimed over 50 lives, as well as killings in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, and Kwara. “These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a much deeper crisis: a breakdown in governance and a failure of the state to protect its people,” CISLAC warned.
CISLAC also raised alarm over the government’s failure to prioritise security, despite huge financial investments. “The more financial resources are pumped into the system, the more insecurity seems to escalate—raising serious concerns about the strategic will to confront and end these atrocities. Until there is clear accountability and effective deployment of resources, insecurity will continue to thrive.”
The group condemned the growing distraction from governance as politicians shift focus to the 2027 elections: “The race for future power is overtaking the urgent need to secure lives, manage our diversity, stabilize the economy, and foster peace. This obsession with political positioning, at a time of national emergency, is reckless and deeply irresponsible.”
CISLAC called for an end to the politicization of killings and misuse of security personnel for political gains, urging leaders to “step back from the politics of ambition and return to the pressing business of rebuilding the nation. Nigerians are not statistics or stepping stones to power. They are citizens—people with dignity, rights, and lives that matter.”
As food insecurity and violence reach alarming levels—with over 33 million Nigerians projected to face acute food shortages in 2025—CISLAC’s message is urgent and uncompromising:
“We cannot continue on this dark and dangerous path. The blood of innocent citizens must no longer be the price we pay for government failure. Enough is enough. Nigeria deserves better.”
He concluded, “The journey to national renewal demands truth, courage, and action—and CISLAC will not relent. Enough is enough.
