Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Gbenga Hashim, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a national security risk. He warned that Nigeria could face the danger of falling into the hands of ISIS-linked terrorists if Tinubu returns to office in 2027. Hashim made these remarks during an interview on Mic On with Seun Okinbaloye.
Hashim raised concerns over the scale and territorial spread of terrorism, particularly across Northern Nigeria. He stated that more than 30,000 lives have been lost to terrorism under the Tinubu administration. Additionally, terrorists and bandits have established significant influence over rural communities across 17 of the 19 Northern states.
According to Hashim, terrorists now exercise forms of parallel authority in parts of the region, including collecting taxes from residents. He described this development as a serious threat to Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Hashim warned that the situation should no longer be treated simply as a conventional security challenge.
Hashim proposed a fundamentally different approach to address the crisis. He suggested that his administration would respond by fundamentally restructuring Nigeria’s internal security architecture. This would include the establishment of a National Guard to confront insurgency and other major internal security threats.
The proposed National Guard would form part of a broader strategy to reclaim vulnerable territories, protect rural communities, and restore citizens’ confidence in the Nigerian state. Hashim has previously advocated for a National Guard as part of a broader restructuring of Nigeria’s security system. In a 2019 policy proposal, he called for a force positioned between the conventional military and the police.
Hashim’s latest intervention places national security at the centre of his 2027 campaign. He argued that the government must restore effective state control over communities where armed groups have established influence. The warning comes amid continuing counter-insurgency operations by Nigeria’s security forces.
The Federal Government has maintained that its security agencies are intensifying operations against terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers across the country. However, Hashim insists that the scale and geographical spread of the crisis require a fundamentally different approach. He emphasized that the 2027 election should be viewed as a critical decision on Nigeria’s future security architecture.
Key points
- Hashim warns Nigeria risks falling into ISIS hands if Tinubu returns to office
- Over 30,000 lives lost to terrorism under Tinubu administration
- Hashim proposes establishment of National Guard to confront insurgency
