BOMB BLASTS IN MAIDUGURI,TINUBU IN UK: IS THIS LEADERSHIP?
-By Zik Gbemre
Nigeria is facing a deeply difficult moment, marked by rising fuel prices, a sharp spike in inflation, massive unemployment, and worsening insecurity across several regions. While it is understood that the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, occupies an executive office that requires engagement with global leaders to strengthen Nigeria’s international standing and attract partnerships, there is growing concern about his apparent silence on pressing domestic issues.
Many Nigerians increasingly feel that, at a time when decisive leadership is most needed, the focus appears to be shifting toward political calculations ahead of 2027 rather than addressing urgent national challenges.
The recent terrorist attack in Maiduguri, which reportedly claimed multiple lives, underscores the gravity of the country’s security crisis. Yet, the absence of a prompt and direct presidential response raises serious questions about leadership visibility and empathy in moments of national tragedy. In times like these, citizens expect more than policy—they expect reassurance, accountability, and a clear demonstration that their government is actively engaged in confronting the threats they face daily.
This brings into question the timing and priority of international engagements. While countries like the United Kingdom may extend invitations for diplomatic reasons, such visits can appear misplaced when urgent crises remain unaddressed at home. If similar attacks were to occur in nations such as Spain, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, or the United States, their leaders would be expected to respond immediately and refocus on domestic security. The contrast highlights a broader concern about whether Nigeria’s leadership is aligning its priorities with the urgency of its internal realities.
The fanfare and display at Windsor Castle further deepen public frustration. At a time when Nigerians are being killed and displaced by insurgency, such scenes appear insensitive and disconnected from the suffering at home. It raises valid questions: who bears the cost of these engagements, and what exactly is being celebrated? Regardless of diplomatic intentions, the optics suggest a troubling mismatch between governance and ground realities. For many citizens, it reflects not celebration, but a failure to fully grasp the weight of the moment.
Nigeria must not accept this level of insecurity as the new normal. The expectation of leadership is not only to govern but to be present, responsive, and fully committed to the protection and welfare of its people. President Tinubu must rise to this moment by reducing the perception of detachment, limiting non-essential foreign trips, and focusing on charting a clear and decisive path toward national stability and progress. Only through visible, people-centered leadership can confidence be restored and the country steered away from its current trajectory.
Zik Gbemre
March 19,2026
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