A prominent figure in the New Nigeria People’s Party, Buba Galadima, has openly admitted that his long history of attacking former president Goodluck Jonathan no longer makes sense to him when compared with Nigeria’s current security realities.
Galadima, who spoke during a televised conversation on Arise News, said his own words have come back to humble him as the worsening insecurity across the country now makes Jonathan appear far more competent than he was ever given credit for.
“I was one of the greatest critics of Jonathan’s presidency. I didn’t know God would disgrace me to show me that Jonathan was even a saint and a better administrator than those that followed him,” he said.
He explained that Jonathan’s decision in 2015 to shift the general elections by six weeks and hire foreign mercenaries made a significant impact on security operations at the time. According to him, the intervention stabilised the situation enough for nationwide voting to take place without interruptions.
“He postponed the election for six weeks, brought mercenaries, and within six weeks those mercenaries stabilised Nigeria. There was no polling booth where elections did not take place,” he said.
Galadima argued that outsourcing specialised military support today would cost the country far less than current security expenditures. He claimed that the mercenary model from the Jonathan years would consume under ten percent of what the armed forces presently use, while delivering better results.
From that point, he widened his criticism to include the present administration, accusing it of abandoning its responsibility to protect citizens while focusing almost entirely on political calculations.
“For me, the government has abdicated its primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties of citizens and has given 99 percent of its time to politicking,” he said.
He maintained that leadership in Nigeria should demand full personal commitment. He added that those occupying public office should devote nearly their entire day to solving national problems.
“You shouldn’t have more than six hours for leisure. The remaining must be hands on the wheels. But that is what we are not seeing,” he said.
Galadima accused the APC-led administration of prioritising political dominance over national safety, saying the government appears more interested in receiving defectors and weakening opposition structures than confronting the dangers facing ordinary Nigerians.
He cautioned that destroying opposition voices threatens the foundation of democracy and could push the country toward authoritarian rule. He warned that such tendencies resemble historical examples of fascist leadership.
“It is not in their interest to destroy opposition because without opposition there is no democracy. And if there is no democracy, it means we are sliding to fascism, dictatorship of the Mussolini type. And this is exactly where they are taking us,” he said.
Speaking on the country’s security strategy, Galadima argued that the current approach has failed and must be replaced with modern intelligence-based systems. He pointed to his personal experience in China, where surveillance networks tracked and recovered a stolen bag across two airports in hours.
“They have tried this gara gara as I call it. It did not work. It is now time to use their intellect, use technology, and protect our citizens,” he said.
He alleged that security agencies had access to clear intelligence before the recent Niger school abduction but acted too slowly. He criticised reports that soldiers stationed in the area withdrew as the attack unfolded.
“Why did they leave the place? They should be court-martialled and be shot,” he said.
Galadima described the closure of schools across parts of northern Nigeria as “shameful,” arguing that government should secure learning spaces instead of shutting them down. He dismissed claims of unavoidable collateral damage, insisting that terrorists generally keep captives in separate locations.
He raised concerns that insurgents now operate with advanced surveillance equipment, including drones and live imagery, and referenced a reported claim by an ISWAP commander that he had full aerial visuals of Sambisa Forest.
Turning to international politics, Galadima advised President Bola Tinubu not to succumb to pressure from United States President Donald Trump. He said the president should instead depend on advisers who offer honest and informed guidance.
While delivering strong criticism of national leadership, he added that he himself is not seeking any political role, stating that he cannot commit to the rigorous daily demands required of a leader.
He said, “I am neither electable nor appointable.”
