April 19, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel News Desk
A senior Nigerian academic and human rights lawyer, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, has published a strongly worded opinion piece questioning the direction of governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that Nigeria is experiencing a continuation—and deepening—of long-standing insecurity and state failure.
In the article titled “The Renewed Dystopia of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (II)”, Odinkalu draws parallels between the administrations of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current Tinubu government, arguing that promises of improved security and governance have largely failed to materialize.
He recalls that upon taking office in 2015, Buhari pledged to prioritize insecurity, corruption, and energy reform, but argues that these challenges worsened over time instead of improving.
The author also references the role of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, noting that both federal and state authorities repeatedly promised to tackle insecurity but failed to deliver meaningful change.
A major focus of the piece is the long-running violence affecting the Adara communities in Kaduna State. Odinkalu describes years of attacks, displacement, and killings across several local government areas, arguing that the communities have suffered repeated cycles of violence without adequate government protection or justice.
He alleges that rather than prosecuting perpetrators, state responses at different times included arrests and detention of community leaders, which courts later found to be politically motivated and not based on credible evidence.
Odinkalu also revisits violent incidents recorded during the 2019 election period, claiming that insecurity and communal attacks escalated significantly, leading to widespread destruction and loss of lives in affected communities.
According to the article, over 300 violent incidents have been documented in Adara areas over the years, with many villages reportedly abandoned due to insecurity.
He further criticizes government responses to attacks, including what he describes as misinformation or denial of certain incidents, arguing that such actions undermine public trust and accountability.
The author also highlights a recent attack during Easter 2026 in Kachia Local Government Area, where worshippers were reportedly killed and abducted during church services, questioning the government’s handling and public communication of the incident.
Odinkalu concludes that President Tinubu’s claim of policy continuity with the previous administration effectively signals a continuation of what he describes as systemic governance failures, especially in the area of security.
He argues that this continuity represents not “renewed hope,” but rather an extension of prolonged national insecurity and institutional weakness.
The piece has sparked renewed debate among political observers and civil society voices about Nigeria’s security architecture, accountability, and the government’s capacity to protect vulnerable communities.
