ABUJA — Nigeria is facing a systemic failure of leadership and remains “under siege” from a worsening security crisis that the current administration has failed to address, a prominent opposition figure said in a wide-ranging interview.
Anthony Ehilebo, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a legal practitioner, characterized the administration of President Bola Tinubu as being more focused on political survival for the 2027 elections than on the immediate safety and economic well-being of the population.
“I am totally disappointed in his application of democratic norms and his application of good governance,” Ehilebo said during an interview on Volume with FemiDlive. “His financial intervention in Nigeria has failed Nigerians woefully. We have gone further deeper into poverty.” [22:36]
Security Crisis and ‘International Invasions’
Ehilebo described Nigeria as a patient with “multiple cancers,” arguing that the security situation has deteriorated significantly since 2015. He noted that while the insurgency was once localized to the northeast with Boko Haram, it has now morphed into a nationwide crisis involving bandits, kidnappers, and international incursions. [11:32]
He alleged that the country is facing an “invasion” from foreign elements on motorbikes entering from the Sahel region, a situation he claimed the government has refused to define accurately. [09:53]
“Nigeria is under siege,” Ehilebo said. “You can see even the U.S. Congress and the U.S. State Department have put in more effort in two months than our entire National Assembly, the Federal Executive, and the Judiciary have combined in the last 10 years.” [12:43]
He called for the immediate convocation of a National Security Conference to provide an emergency roadmap, warning that the president has only a narrow window before the country enters a full campaign cycle that often compromises governance. [13:08]
Economic Criticism and ‘Oppressive’ Taxation
The PDP official also targeted the government’s fiscal policies, specifically the removal of fuel subsidies and a new tax regime. He accused the administration of being a “Father Christmas” to state governors by distributing subsidy savings to them without ensuring transparent reinvestment in public infrastructure. [14:53]
Ehilebo expressed concern that a proposed tax regime could be used as a “tool of oppression” against the political opposition. He argued that the state has no moral right to levy further taxes when citizens are already providing their own electricity, water, and security. [50:54]
“What gives them the right to tax me when they are not providing governance?” he asked, citing constitutional requirements for the state to provide security. “I’m a local government unto myself. I provided power for myself; I provided water for myself.” [52:10]
He further criticized the lack of frugality in government, citing the 30-billion-naira expenditure on the Vice President’s residence and the president’s large convoys as evidence of a leadership disconnected from the financial struggles of the citizenry. [53:28]
Political Friction and the ‘Destruction’ of the PDP
Turning to internal politics, Ehilebo launched a sharp critique of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of undermining the PDP and exerting undue influence over the Rivers State House of Assembly. He alleged that the 17 pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers “cannot even breathe” without the minister’s authorization, a dynamic he said is destroying the democratic fabric of the state. [21:20]
Ehilebo also raised alarms about judicial bias, claiming that certain judges are repeatedly assigned to cases involving the FCT Minister and the PDP, which he said “makes a mockery of our judicial system.” [32:12]
In a surprising claim, Ehilebo asserted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had left the PDP for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stating that the elder politician should have “stayed and fought for the party.” [38:26]
Geopolitical Concerns
The interview also touched on Nigeria’s role in West Africa. Ehilebo expressed suspicion regarding President Tinubu’s close relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron, suggesting that France may be seeking a new “foothold” in Nigeria after being expelled from other Sahelian nations. [57:36]
He warned that Nigeria must be careful not to become a staging ground for “recolonization” or a pawn in a larger propaganda war involving Russia, the United States, and France. [01:00:32]
Ehilebo concluded by urging Nigerians to demand more from their representatives. “If everybody starts telling lies, how far are we going to go?” he said. “The truth is what it is.” [37:56]
Video Source: Disgraceful Leaders Everywhere in Nigeria even Tinubu | Anthony Ehilebo | Volume w FemiDlive