The renowned clergyman and political commentator, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has once again injected a fiery dose of criticism into the national conversation, this time targeting the National Assembly (NASS) for what he described as a “cavalier” and largely ineffectual response to Nigeria’s escalating security crisis. Speaking with characteristic boldness, the former Vice-Presidential candidate did not mince words, accusing the legislative arm of government of failing in its constitutional duty of effective oversight and decisive action to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians. Bakare’s condemnation comes amid a continuous spike in banditry, kidnapping for ransom, communal clashes, and terror attacks that have made travel and rural life precarious across many states.
Bakare’s critique is centred on the perception that the NASS comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives has prioritised political manoeuvring, budget padding controversies, and self-serving legislative agenda over addressing the nation’s most existential threat. He argued pointedly that while the country burns under the weight of insecurity, the lawmakers appear more concerned with the comfort of their chambers and the size of their emoluments rather than enacting and enforcing the legislative reforms necessary to overhaul the security apparatus. This failure of leadership, he contended, renders the entire national political structure questionable in the eyes of the suffering populace.
The criticism from a figure like Bakare carries substantial weight. Not only does he command a significant following as a revered pastor, but he also possesses a history of deep political engagement and activism, making his voice a significant barometer of public frustration. His comments resonate deeply with a weary citizenry that often sees the NASS as a rubber-stamp institution that rarely challenges the executive arm on critical matters of national security and defence spending. The core of his argument lies in the NASS’s power of the purse and its oversight functions. According to Bakare, the lawmakers have failed to rigorously audit security expenditures, summon and hold security chiefs adequately accountable, or urgently pass comprehensive legislation that addresses the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and judicial system weakness.
Specifically, the pastor highlighted the necessity for the NASS to initiate a constitutional amendment that would allow for state policing or regional security structures. While security votes are debated and passed annually, he questioned the mechanisms put in place by the NASS to track the effectiveness of these funds and ensure they translate into tangible improvements on the ground. The occasional summons of security chiefs to closed-door sessions, he argued, has proven to be mere political theatre rather than serious investigative or corrective action. This lack of legislative urgency has created a dangerous vacuum, allowing non-state actors to operate with impunity.
The response from the National Assembly, or the lack thereof, further underscores the legitimacy of Bakare’s concerns. Historically, the legislative body often dismisses such criticisms as politically motivated or unfounded, but the current security realities make a simple rebuttal difficult. Bakare’s call is, in essence, a challenge to the NASS’s entire legitimacy, a demand that they shift their focus entirely to national survival. Until the legislative arm demonstrates a renewed, ferocious commitment to its oversight roles and begins to treat the issue of insecurity with the urgency it deserves, the public’s perception of it as an unresponsive and self-serving body will only continue to harden. His remarks serve as a powerful, timely reminder that the responsibility for national security does not lie with the Executive alone, but must be holistically enforced by a proactive and accountable legislature.