Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, arguing that his Democracy Day broadcast failed to reflect the realities of insecurity and economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
Melaye made the remarks in Abuja during the third posthumous legacy colloquium held in honour of late Raymond Dokpesi. The event was organised by D-37, a group of Dokpesi’s political associates.
The former lawmaker said Tinubu’s June 12 address did not accurately capture the challenges facing ordinary citizens.
“I have a problem with every part of Tinubu’s June 12 broadcast because it did not represent the truth. The statistics are faulted, the intentions are not genuine, and every part of that speech is at variance with the practical experience of what Nigerians are going through. It carries no hope,” Melaye said.
He cited recent incidents of insecurity, including reported attacks in Kogi State and school-related abductions, as evidence of worsening security challenges across the country.
According to him, the Federal Government should treat insecurity as a national emergency and demonstrate greater capacity in addressing the problem.
“This story is the same across almost all the states of the country. For a government that is sensitive to its people, the president ought to have declared a state of emergency on security,” he said.
The chieftain of the African Democratic Congress referenced Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“Any leader who has failed in security and welfare is a failed president. Nigeria is not Lagos. He is overwhelmed and does not have the capacity to lead this country,” Melaye stated.
He added that while he does not support the payment of ransom to kidnappers, the government must demonstrate the ability to protect lives and property.
“When you cannot do it, you should resign honourably and leave,” he said.
Melaye also blamed the administration for the prevailing economic hardship affecting many Nigerians.
Speaking at the event, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nkoyo Toyo, urged Nigerians not to assume that the outcome of the 2027 presidential election had already been determined.
She encouraged citizens to pay close attention to electoral processes, including the appointment of resident electoral commissioners across the states.
“People should not surrender. This is the time for citizens to reclaim their role in the democratic process. The political class is not as powerful as many believe,” Toyo said.
Also speaking, former Benue State Attorney-General, Alex Ter Adum, expressed concern about what he described as a shrinking democratic space and growing intolerance for dissenting views.
He said Dokpesi was known for providing a platform for diverse opinions and perspectives through his media organisations.
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