Former Kaduna State Governor and ex-National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a national emergency on insecurity, warning that the country’s worsening safety situation requires immediate, coordinated action.
Addressing journalists at his Kaduna residence on Sunday, Makarfi observed that while Nigeria’s uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999 is an achievement, the benefits of democracy are being eroded by rising violence and economic hardship.
“The reality on the ground is that security challenges are widening,” Makarfi said. “The President, working with state governments, should declare a national emergency. Governance priorities must shift so that the first, second, and third items on the agenda are security in all its facets.”
Makarfi argued that the crisis has reached a level where it can no longer be handled as routine governance. He suggested that funding for long-term infrastructure projects should be redirected to immediate security needs.
“You cannot be talking about rural electrification and other projects when we have these levels of insecurity. Government resources must be largely targeted at addressing this threat,” he added.
Turning to the 2027 general elections, the former governor expressed strong opposition to the potential deregistration of political parties. He cautioned that any move to prune the number of parties now would be viewed as politically motivated.
“I don’t support the deregistration of these parties. Even if there is a legal basis, it has been left too late. My view is that any party that has complied with INEC’s published guidelines should be allowed to participate,” Makarfi stated.
Regarding the ongoing friction within the PDP, Makarfi urged party leaders to prioritize reconciliation and legal due process over factional interests.
“I am not a factional person; I am a PDP person,” he said. “From the beginning, some of us promoted a ‘give-and-take’ approach to avoid crisis. That remains the only way out. The PDP has a bright future because it is deep-rooted and not built around a single individual.”
As he approaches his 70th birthday in August, Makarfi officially ruled out seeking elective office in the future.
“I don’t belong to the class of people who believe it must always be them,” he concluded. “I am satisfied contributing from the sidelines while more vibrant, younger leaders are given the chance to lead.”
Makarfi’s remarks come at a time of heightened national anxiety over kidnapping and banditry, alongside early maneuvering for the 2027 political cycle.
