Insecurity didn’t start with Tinubu, group defends president’s security record

A political pressure group, the Renewed Hope Grassroots Initiatives, has declared support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, urging Nigerians to back what it called a “continuity mandate” to sustain ongoing reforms.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Director-General of the group, Jaafaru Sa’ad, argued that the administration has made measurable progress despite inheriting deep-rooted economic and security challenges.

“Insecurity did not start with President Bola Tinubu. He inherited it from the four past Presidents, and he is dealing with it. Trying to blame President Tinubu for the security challenges is disingenuous,“ Sa’ad said.

He maintained that changes in the security and intelligence framework would take time to produce visible results. “The President is redesigning the intelligence and security architecture he inherited, and these things do not materialise overnight,” he added.

Sa’ad also weighed in on the growing debate around tenure and power rotation, pushing back against proposals for a single four-year presidential term. The idea has been championed in recent years by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, who argued that a one-term presidency would curb excessive spending on re-election campaigns and force leaders to focus on governance from day one. Obi had framed the proposal as part of a broader reform agenda aimed at reducing the cost of governance and promoting accountability.

However, Sa’ad warned that such a shift could upset Nigeria’s political balance.

“In the spirit of equity, fairness and national unity, it becomes just and equitable for President Tinubu to be allowed the chance to complete his eight-year tenure,” he said.

He added that shortening the tenure could destabilise the country’s informal power rotation arrangement. “A single term of four years does not grant enough time to effect any substantive change and is capable of truncating the peaceful rotational presidency we have enjoyed,” Sa’ad stated.

Faulting proponents of the one-term proposal, he said, “Nigerians should be wary of desperate politicians. If they could not fix a state they governed in eight years, it exposes their lack of understanding of the complexities of governance.”

On the economy, Sa’ad pointed to what he described as improving indicators under the current administration, including easing inflationary pressure, stronger foreign reserves, and renewed investor confidence.

“Economic growth is returning to Nigeria courtesy of the reforms being carried out by Mr President,” he said. “Inflation rate has dropped significantly, while foreign exchange reserves have risen to $46bn, the highest in seven years.”

He also cited Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list as evidence of progress in financial governance. “Its removal signals global confidence in Nigeria’s commitment to combating money laundering and terrorist financing,” he noted.

Sa’ad listed major policy steps such as the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, and increased investment in the oil and gas sector as key drivers of recovery. On social interventions, he highlighted education-focused programmes, including the student loan scheme.

“Tinubu’s administration grants access to education for the poor and middle classes,” he said.

While acknowledging the hardship that has accompanied the reforms, he appealed for patience. “Reforms everywhere in the world come with pains Nigerians should endure today for a brighter and better future,” he said.

He called for nationwide backing of the President’s second-term ambition. “We call on all Nigerians to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu another four years in 2027 to complete the work he has started,” Sa’ad said, adding that the group would mobilise grassroots support across the country.