Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A public commentator and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismissing his assertion that unnamed enemies are exploiting insecurity to force him out of office as “imaginary and self‑manufactured”. In a post on his verified X handle on Thursday, 30 April 2026, Shehu rejected the president’s narrative and instead accused the administration of being the author of its own troubles. “You are your own enemy,” Shehu wrote. “Please carry your cross alone. Your claim of enemies working against you is imaginary and self‑manufactured. Insecurity is real in Nigeria. Read the daily security reports on your table.”
Shehu’s rebuke came hours after President Tinubu, speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving a delegation from Plateau State, declared that he was a “very stubborn politician” who would not be pushed out by enemies using the country’s security crisis as a weapon. “You are playing to the hand of agents, including my own enemies, who want to use insecurity to get rid of me,” Tinubu said in a short video that was later circulated by his media team. “But I’m a very stubborn politician. I just refuse to go.” The president’s remarks were immediately interpreted as a response to mounting criticism over the deteriorating security situation, particularly in the North‑West and North‑Central regions, where bandits have continued to kill and abduct civilians with near‑impunity.
Shehu, who has built a reputation as a persistent critic of the Tinubu administration, did not stop at dismissing the president’s conspiracy theory. He levelled a series of sharp accusations against the government, charging that its economic policies “lack human consideration” and that many Nigerians are struggling under current conditions. He also described the president’s political approach as “highly divisive and provocative”, adding that “the pattern of resource allocation under this administration is too sectional, biased and discriminatory”. Shehu went further, questioning the very character of democratic governance under Tinubu. “The way you practise democracy is strange even in the animal kingdom,” he said, alleging that constitutional breaches have weakened accountability. “The way you violate our constitution makes every other offender innocent,” Shehu added.
The activist also took aim at the government’s fiscal management, raising concerns about what he described as reckless spending and borrowing. “The way and manner you incur expenditure and debt compel many to begin asking whether you truly have Nigeria at heart,” he said. He accused the administration of ignoring public outcry with “ignominy and contempt”, adding that such conduct “shows your lack of respect for Nigerians”. Referring to a past remark by the president, Shehu wrote: “No wonder you called yourself a ‘stubborn politician’.” His statement, which quickly gained traction on social media, has amplified a wider national conversation about the government’s handling of both security and the economy.
President Tinubu’s own comments on Wednesday night had already drawn sharp reactions from opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who warned that “the blood of innocent Nigerians will judge” the administration. The president’s assertion that insecurity is being weaponised by his political opponents was seen by many analysts as an attempt to deflect blame for a crisis that has seen thousands of civilians killed and abducted since he took office. According to data compiled by civil society organisations, bandits and insurgents have carried out dozens of attacks across several states in the first quarter of 2026 alone, with little sign of abatement despite repeated military operations.
Shehu’s latest intervention is part of a long‑running pattern of criticism against the Tinubu administration. In February 2026, he accused the president of being “clueless” for planning a trip to Kebbi State at a time when other parts of the country were reeling from deadly attacks. In March, he criticised what he called “emotional voting” by Nigerians, while in April he described the government’s budget as an “annual ritual of deception”. His consistent opposition has made him a polarising figure, with supporters praising his courage and detractors accusing him of seeking attention. Nevertheless, his X post on Thursday was shared thousands of times within hours, reflecting the deep public frustration with the prevailing insecurity and economic hardship.
The presidency had not issued a formal response to Shehu’s remarks as of the time of this report. A source within the State House, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed the activist’s comments as “the usual noise from a professional critic”. However, with the 2027 election cycle already gathering momentum, the exchange highlights the growing political pressure on President Tinubu to demonstrate tangible progress on security and governance. For millions of Nigerians who have lost loved ones to bandits or who struggle daily to afford basic necessities, the debate over whether the president’s enemies are real or imagined is largely academic. What they want, as Shehu himself noted, is for the government to read the security reports on its own table and act accordingly.
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