The Media Office of 2923 Labour Party Governorship Candidate in Lagos, Chief Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has strongly criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over its claims of improving national security under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The statement, released on Saturday, described the APC’s assertions as “a cruel joke” in the face of escalating violence across Nigeria, highlighting what it called hypocrisy and governance failures.
“The APC government’s claims of improved security starkly contrast with the day-to-day reality faced by Nigerians,” the statement read. “Insecurity continues to ravage communities, leaving citizens vulnerable and terrified.”
The media office pointed to recent high-profile incidents to underscore its argument. “Just last Friday, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had his vehicle stolen in broad daylight in Abuja. Adding to this tragedy, the Director of Administration for the APC, Hon. AbdulRauf Adekunle Adeniji, was brutally murdered after weeks in captivity. May his soul rest in peace,” the statement said.
The APC’s national secretariat in Abuja was reportedly shut down following Adeniji’s death. This, according to Rhodes-Vivour’s team, highlights the severity of the country’s security crisis.
“Is this the same party that once criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan for security lapses? Now, under their administration, even top officials are not safe,” the statement added.
Beyond Abuja, the violence continues to spread across the nation. “In Uromi, Edo State, gunmen left families mourning after a horrific attack. Plateau State has become synonymous with massacres, yet the federal government’s response has been sluggish, with no meaningful arrests or prosecutions. What message does this send to the perpetrators?” the statement questioned.
The office accused the APC government of prioritizing politics over governance. “All they seem to care about is the 2027 elections, which are still years away. It’s sad how Tinubu and his allies are heavy on political maneuvering yet paperweight when it comes to actual governance,” the statement said pointedly.
“They need an urgent crash course on what democracy truly entails. For them, democracy seems to be only about the politics of elections and nothing more,” the Media Office remarked critically.
The statement also called out the politicization of Nigeria’s security agencies. “The Nigeria Police Force has been weaponized to suppress opposition voices, while crimes committed by those in power are ignored. Under this administration, security agencies have transformed from protectors of the people to tools of intimidation,” the Media Office alleged.
The Labour Party, through Rhodes-Vivour’s Media Office, demanded immediate action. “We call for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture. The government must adopt a non-partisan, professional approach to policing and stop deceiving Nigerians with empty statistics while lives are being lost daily.”
The statement concluded with a direct challenge to the APC. “The people deserve a government that prioritizes their safety over political grandstanding. Until then, the APC’s claims of improved security remain a cruel joke, underscoring a disturbing pattern of hypocrisy and failure.”
