Dino Melaye Demands Tinubu’s Resignation Over National Insecurity
Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has called on President Bola Tinubu to step down, arguing that the president’s response to the country’s worsening security crisis is inadequate and out of touch with the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking at the third posthumous legacy colloquium in Abuja honouring the late Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications, Melaye said he had “a problem with every part of Tinubu’s June 12 broadcast speech.” He added that the speech lacked truth, noting that “if you increase it, it’s no longer the truth; if you decrease it, it’s no longer the truth.”
Melaye criticised the statistics presented, claimed the intentions were not genuine, and said the president was speaking words he did not believe. He argued that the address bore no relation to the daily hardships Nigerians endure and offered no hope.
He pointed to recent kidnappings and killings in Oyo and Kogi states as evidence of the deteriorating security situation. “In my own state of Kogi, two days ago, students writing the English language for their WAEC examinations were kidnapped. The attackers killed the vice‑principal, a six‑year‑old child, and a 70‑year‑old man before taking the students away,” Melaye stated.
According to him, similar incidents are occurring across almost every state. Melaye insisted that a responsive government would have declared a state of emergency on security, noting that Nigeria’s security architecture is not inherently terrible.
He labelled the current leadership “grossly incompetent,” reminding listeners that Tinubu is the commander‑in‑chief of the armed forces. Melaye referenced the inauguration day when Tinubu held the Quran in his left hand and the Constitution in his right.
Citing Section 42(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that the security and welfare of the people are the primary responsibility of government, Melaye declared that any leader who fails in these duties is a failed president.
Using a vivid metaphor, he said, “The president is wearing an oversized shoe. You cannot give what you don’t have. Nigeria is not Lagos. He is overwhelmed and lacks the intellectual, emotional, or physical capacity to lead this country.”
Melaye added that the nation has never seen security at such a low point, noting that in the last three years alone three serving generals have been abducted and killed, whereas abroad only one pilot went missing and the United States deployed extensive resources to locate him.
When generals are being killed, he asked, what hope do ordinary citizens have? He clarified that he is not advocating ransom payments but insists the government must demonstrate capacity to protect lives. If it cannot, Melaye concluded, the president should resign honourably.
The ADC chieftain also blamed the administration for the pervasive economic hardship affecting all segments of Nigerian society.
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