Governor Rotimi Amaechi has demanded that President Bola Tinubu immediately tender his resignation for failing to tackle the security challenges ravaging the country.

“If a government cannot guarantee the safety of its people, then it has no right to remain in power. President Tinubu should resign,” Mr Amaechi said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “He has failed woefully to perform his basic responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians. If those in power cannot guarantee that, then they have no business clinging to authority.”

The former governor’s statement came hours three suicide bombers detonated deadly explosives at the Main Market, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and a flyover close to a post office, all in Maiduguri, the Borno capital, on Monday, killing 23 while leaving several others injured.

Mr Amaechi, who described the incident as an indictment of an abysmally incompetent government, accused Tinubu’s administration of intentionally killing Nigerians.

He stated, “President Bola Tinubu’s government is killing Nigerians, literally destroying lives. He has failed in the most sacred duty of protecting the lives of the citizens of this country. The Monday bombings in Maiduguri are not just a tragedy. It is a damning indictment of a leadership that has grown complacent, abysmally incompetent, and indifferent to the sufferings and death of Nigerians to ravaging bandits.”

Mr Amaechi further slammed Mr Tinubu for issuing hollow statements and making empty promises “while families continue to mourn and communities live in fear”.

Accusing Mr Tinubu and those in government of living lavishly and ostentatiously while failing to take decisive actions to end the raging insecurity, the ex-governor stated that Nigerians cannot continue to mourn and live in fear.

“Nigerians cannot continue to mourn and live in fear, while Tinubu and his lackeys at the helm of affairs in the country live lavishly and ostentatiously, while failing to take decisive actions to put an end to the raging insecurity.

“How many more lives must be lost before they admit their failure? How many more communities must be shattered and destroyed before they take decisive action? Insecurity has become the daily reality of ordinary citizens, and yet the government continues to stumble, unprepared and unwilling to confront the menace with the seriousness it demands,” the politician said.

The presidency did not immediately respond to requests for a comment on Mr Amaechi’s allegation.