A former Lagos State APC spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, has warned against attempts by some interests to exploit insecurity for political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Monday in Lagos, Oladejo said recent security developments had raised concerns about efforts to amplify fear and undermine public confidence in national institutions.
He noted that Nigeria had experienced periods when heightened political activities coincided with attempts by destabilising forces to exploit existing challenges.
Oladejo said recent incidents should not be viewed in isolation, but within the broader political context as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
He alleged that some interests were magnifying security challenges to create an impression of national collapse and erode citizens’ confidence in governance.
“The Nigerian people must ask themselves a fundamental question: Who benefits from a climate of fear and instability?
“Certainly not the farmer whose crops are abandoned because of insecurity. Certainly not the trader whose business suffers. Certainly not the young graduate searching for opportunities.
“Certainly not the families who simply desire peace and stability. The beneficiaries are often those who view every national challenge through the narrow prism of political advantage,” he said.
The former APC spokesman said insecurity should never be treated as a political asset or used to advance partisan interests and electoral ambitions.
He said some political actors appeared more interested in the consequences of insecurity than in supporting efforts to address it.
“Increasingly, it appears that what the opposition has lost in cohesion, direction and confidence in its electoral prospects, it seeks to regain through a politics of fear.
“Unable to offer a compelling alternative vision capable of inspiring Nigerians, some have resorted to celebrating every setback and amplifying every tragedy.
“Rather than rallying the nation towards solutions, they appear content to weaponise public fear for partisan advantage,” he said.
Oladejo stressed that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping were national challenges that should not be viewed through partisan lenses.
He said every attack on a Nigerian community was an attack on the Nigerian state, irrespective of the political party in power.
“Terrorism is not a partisan issue. Banditry is not a partisan issue. Kidnapping is not a partisan issue.
“The blood of innocent Nigerians does not carry party membership cards. Every attack on a Nigerian community is an attack on the Nigerian state itself.
“At moments such as this, patriotic leaders should be rallying behind security agencies and strengthening national cohesion,” he said.
He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu inherited long-standing security challenges that could not be resolved overnight.
According to him, the government has continued to strengthen military operations, improve intelligence gathering and modernise security responses across the country.
Oladejo added that while security challenges persist, it would be unfair to ignore the progress recorded by security agencies in confronting criminal and terrorist networks.
He urged citizens to remain vigilant and reject attempts to turn insecurity into a campaign platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
Oladejo called for unity among Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or region, to confront violence and terrorism.
He said national security should never become collateral damage in the pursuit of power, and that a secure Nigeria remained in the interest of all citizens(NAN)
