Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged President Bola Tinubu to take a more proactive role in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, saying Governor Seyi Makinde lacks the constitutional powers and security resources to tackle major crises alone.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent on Friday, July 17, 2026, George criticized politicians for politicizing the recent kidnapping of school pupils and teachers in Oyo State instead of treating it as a national security emergency. He argued that the incident, which remained unresolved for over two months, reflects a broader insecurity affecting states including Borno, Benue, and Ekiti.
George said governments should adopt coordinated security strategies based on intelligence gathering, planning, execution, and post-operation reviews. Drawing comparisons with the United States, he noted that governors there have state police and can deploy the National Guard before seeking federal support.
He stressed that protecting lives and property must take precedence over political disagreements, stating, “If Makinde is unsure of the right actions, remember the president is more experienced; he knows what is advisable and what should be avoided. He was a governor for eight years. If A won’t approach B, then B will have to approach A.”
George also criticized former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for politicizing the issue, urging leaders to unite in confronting the country’s worsening insecurity instead of pursuing political advantage.
