Diaspora Yoruba Group Calls Out Baba for Security Wahala

Photo: The Punch

When Your Own People Start Calling You Out

You know say things don spoil when even your own people wey dey abroad begin call you out publicly. That's exactly what happened this week when Afenifere Diaspora USA - the overseas branch of the prominent Yoruba socio-political group - came for President Bola Tinubu with both barrels blazing over Nigeria's security situation.

These people no send anybody o! They wrote a detailed statement that practically dragged Baba through the mud, citing specific security failures that have made life unbearable for ordinary Nigerians. And honestly, after reading their complaints, you go understand say their frustration dey very valid.

The Specific Wahala Wey Dem Point Out

According to the Afenifere USA chapter, the security situation under Tinubu's watch has moved from bad to worse, and they no dey mince words about it. They specifically mentioned:

• The increasing rate of kidnapping across all six geopolitical zones
• Bandit attacks that have made farming practically impossible in many northern states
• The rise in ritual killings and cultism, especially in the Southwest
• Herder-farmer clashes that continue to claim lives daily
• The persistent threat of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Northeast
• Rising cases of armed robbery on major highways

But e no end there o. The group also knocked the President for what they called "controversial electoral law changes" that they believe are designed to manipulate future elections. According to them, instead of focusing on fixing the security mess, the administration dey busy trying to rig the system for 2027.

Their Proposed Solutions Wey Make Sense

Now, this na where the Afenifere USA people show say they no just dey complain for complaining sake. They actually dropped some serious suggestions that any reasonable government should consider:

Community Policing Revolution: They want the federal government to properly empower state and local governments to establish community police forces that understand the local terrain and can respond quickly to threats.

Technology Integration: The group is calling for massive investment in surveillance technology, including drones and CCTV networks, especially in kidnapping hotspots like the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

Economic Empowerment: They argue that many young people join criminal gangs because of joblessness. Their solution? Massive job creation programs targeted at youth in high-crime areas.

Border Security Overhaul: With Nigeria's porous borders allowing criminals and weapons to flow freely, they want a complete restructuring of border management.

Why This Criticism Hit Different

Make we no lie to ourselves - criticism from opposition parties don become normal thing for any sitting president. But when your own ethnic group, people wey supported you from day one, begin call you out publicly, that one na different ball game entirely.

Afenifere has historically been a strong voice for Yoruba interests, and many of their members were instrumental in Tinubu's presidential campaign. So when they now turn around to say the man is failing, you know say the matter don serious pass ordinary political banter.

The timing of this criticism is also very strategic. With 2027 elections still far away, the group is essentially giving Tinubu a wake-up call: fix these problems now or risk losing the support of your own people.

The Real Talk About Nigeria's Security Challenge

Truth be told, the security problems wey Nigeria dey face today no start today, and e no go end tomorrow. From Obasanjo to Jonathan to Buhari, and now Tinubu, each administration don inherit this same headache and none of them don find lasting solution.

But what the Afenifere USA people are saying is that Tinubu, as someone who campaigned on the promise of renewed hope, should at least show clear signs that he understands the depth of the problem and has concrete plans to address it.

The group specifically mentioned that in their home states in the Southwest, people can no longer travel freely on roads that were once safe. Kidnapping don become so common that families are now budgeting for ransom payments - imagine that level of hopelessness!

What This Means for Tinubu's Political Future

Political analysts wey I don talk to are saying that this public criticism from Afenifere USA na serious warning signal for the Tinubu administration. If he lose the support of core Yoruba groups, his 2027 re-election ambitions fit be in serious trouble.

The President and his team need to take this criticism seriously and provide specific, measurable responses to the security challenges highlighted. Nigerians don tire of vague promises and empty speeches - we want to see real action and real results.

As one political observer put it: "When your own people wey dey abroad begin complain say they shame to tell their foreign friends say they be Nigerians because of insecurity, you know say the matter don pass ordinary politics."

The ball is now in President Tinubu's court. Will he listen to these concerns and take decisive action, or will he dismiss them as mere political noise? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - the patience of Nigerians, both at home and abroad, is wearing very thin.