“My People Asked Me to Cry, And I Cried” – Senator Speaks on Insecurity Democracy Is at a ‘Comatose Stage’ in Nigeria

• A senator from Kebbi State has criticised the Tinubu administration over insecurity, budget implementation, and the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
• He said his comments were driven by the concerns of constituents facing persistent bandit attacks and economic hardship.
• The lawmaker also questioned government spending, revenue management, and the credibility of political processes, warning that growing public dissatisfaction could pose a serious challenge to democratic stability if urgent reforms are not undertaken.

A senator representing a constituency in Kebbi State has publicly criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, raising concerns about insecurity, budget implementation, economic hardship and the state of democracy in the country.

Speaking during an interview on AIT, the lawmaker said he had come under criticism for speaking out about the worsening security situation in Kebbi State, but insisted that he was merely representing the concerns of the people who elected him.

According to him:

“My people that sent me here asked me to cry. And I cried.”

The senator said bandit attacks continue to affect communities across Kebbi State and denied claims that his comments were motivated by personal disagreements with the state government.

He maintained that his primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of residents who have continued to suffer from insecurity.

The lawmaker also accused the Federal Government of failing to properly implement national budgets despite successive appropriations over the last three years.

In his words:

“Three years since Tinubu’s government, the budget has not been implemented. He has never implemented a budget.”

He further questioned the management of government revenues and borrowed funds, arguing that several revenue-generating agencies have reported exceeding their targets.

“All the revenue generating agencies in this country told us they have exceeded their target. Where is the money going?”

While stressing that he respects President Tinubu, the senator warned that those presenting an overly positive picture of the country to the President were not helping the administration.

According to him:

“Nigerians are suffering. Nigerians are complaining.”

The senator also expressed concern about the state of Nigeria’s democracy, claiming that party primaries across different political parties have increasingly become controlled by powerful political interests rather than democratic competition.

He stated:

“The fate of democracy in Nigeria is at a very, very comatose stage.”

The lawmaker warned that continued public frustration could eventually undermine confidence in democratic governance if political leaders fail to respond to citizens’ concerns.

Reflecting on his political journey, he explained that he was originally elected on the platform of the PDP before moving to the APC and later joining the ADC, citing dissatisfaction with internal party processes and what he described as unfair treatment.

He also pointed to low voter turnout during a recent by-election in Kebbi State as evidence of growing public disillusionment with politics.

According to him:

“If it continues this way, it’s not the military that will truncate democracy, it’s the ordinary people on the street.”