The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dared President Bola Tinubu to relocate to Kebbi State or another northern state affected by armed conflict if his leadership is genuinely committed to guaranteeing citizens’ safety.

The party, in a statement on Thursday, described Mr Tinubu’s cancelled trip to South Africa and Angola as the “latest and boldest example of tokenism,” following the recent abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and other cases of insecurity ravaging the country.

“While the decision may appear to be in sympathy with the kidnapping of the Maga schoolgirls and the escalating insecurity across the country, particularly in northern Nigeria, it remains a mere perfunctory gesture and nothing more,” the opposition party said in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong.

It added, “If the APC-led presidency disagrees with this position, then we demand that President Tinubu temporarily relocate to Kebbi State and other theatres of armed conflict in Northern Nigeria.”

Describing the present time as a moment of grave national challenge, Mr Ememobong stated that Mr Tinubu must not be overly comfortable at the presidential villa, as 25 secondary school girls have been abducted and their whereabouts are unknown. 

“The recent attacks in Kwara State further support our assertion that insecurity and fear have become the daily lived experience and new reality of Nigerians across the country. 

“Yet the APC-led administration continues to issue outright denials, rationalised explanations, empty assurances, and other superficial gestures such as the president’s cancelled trip,” said Mr Ememobong.

The party’s spokesperson noted that Mr Tinubu’s cancelled trips, without strategic actions guaranteeing protection of lives and properties, merely amount to a media stunt, curried public favour and sheer sympathy.

“If this were a political crisis (like the Rivers State case), President Tinubu would have deployed all strategies and resources, within and outside the law, to find a solution,” he said.

Suggesting decisive leadership, strategic action, and, as necessary, effective support for security personnel, the spokesperson urged the president to disengage from cosmetic efforts aimed at scoring political points.

Mr Ememobong stated, “The safety of Nigerians cannot be reduced to mere theatrics. Leadership must rise above optics and deliver tangible, consistent action that restores public confidence and protects lives and property. 

“This situation demands seriousness, not symbolism. The presidency must rise to the occasion or make way for those who can.”

Mr Tinubu had cancelled his visits to South Africa and Angola following criticism that trailed his government’s handling of insecurity hours after rampaging bandits abducted 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State.