Tinubu Obsessed with 2027” — ACF Slams APC for Ignoring Nigeria’s Security and Economic Crisis

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has criticised President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for what it described as a troubling obsession with the 2027 re-election campaign, at the expense of urgent national issues such as insecurity and economic hardship.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the northern socio-political group expressed deep concern that the APC government was more focused on early political maneuvering and welcoming defections than addressing the deteriorating conditions across the country.

The ACF particularly condemned the government’s inadequate response to the security crisis plaguing Northern Nigeria and highlighted what it called “reckless profligacy” in public spending. It cited the controversial insertion in the proposed 2025 federal budget of over ₦260 million for individual streetlight projects as an example of gross mismanagement. The forum noted that the lack of official denial regarding such budgetary allocations underscores a growing disconnect between political leaders and the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians.

“A most perverse illustration of reckless profligacy of public expenditure has been the revelation about insertions in the 2025 federal budget, for the provision of streetlights at a staggering and unimaginable cost of over ₦260 million each,” the statement read.

According to the ACF, this type of spending is replicated at the state level and reflects a broader malaise in Nigeria’s political economy. The forum described the government’s public messaging on security as dangerously out of touch, warning that such “delusional hubris” ignores the realities faced by citizens and risks fuelling mass disillusionment and despair.

Despite these challenges, the ACF commended Nigerians for their resilience, especially during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, which it said serves as a reminder of the values of sacrifice, fellowship, and devotion. The forum acknowledged the celebration took place amid severe economic hardship, including inflation, falling wages, and rising living costs.

While celebrating the enduring spirit of the Nigerian people, the ACF called for a renewed focus on good governance and accountability at all levels of government, warning that continued neglect could deepen the country’s crises.