A series of past social media posts by Bola Tinubu on national security have resurfaced online, reigniting debate over the role of the presidency in safeguarding lives and property.
In one of the widely shared posts, Tinubu stated: “On matters of security, the bulk stops at the President’s table,” adding that the president serves as the Chief Security Officer, a position that places ultimate responsibility for national security at the highest level of government.
The resurfaced comments have gained traction following recent remarks by a member of the All Progressives Congress, Obafemi George, who suggested that the responsibility for internal security lies primarily with state governors and commissioners of police, rather than the president.
George argued that while the president is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, his role is largely focused on defending the country against external threats and territorial aggression. He maintained that day-to-day security of lives within states falls under the jurisdiction of local authorities.
He also pointed to structural limitations within Nigeria’s policing system, noting that commissioners of police report to the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector General of Police, rather than directly to state governors, which can limit the effectiveness of state-level security control.
According to him, this challenge has strengthened calls for the creation of state police, a proposal that has been repeatedly debated as part of efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
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