Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of relying heavily on propaganda while failing to address the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
In an interview with Punch, Yusuf dismissed claims that Tinubu’s government has performed better than its predecessors, arguing that its achievements are more about perception than reality.
“They have done better in propaganda. I have never seen a government that thrives on propaganda like that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but that is their modus operandi,” he said.
Citing recent attacks, Yusuf highlighted the severity of the security situation in the North.
“Recently, Boko Haram killed close to 90 people in Bawa Local Government. In my home state, Katsina, bandits killed 32 worshippers inside a mosque and over 20 others in the town, bringing the death toll to more than 50. Many others were abducted.”
Yusuf criticized the administration’s approach to security, accusing it of neglect and detachment.
“The North sees President Bola Tinubu as the first Commander-in-Chief who is completely hands-off on security, which is our biggest challenge. His advisers are only interested in propaganda, and that is making him increasingly unpopular in the region.”
He further dismissed claims of improved security, insisting the situation has deteriorated.
“If they say security is better, let them go to Borno or Katsina, where 24 out of 34 local governments are under siege. Seventy per cent of Katsina is not safe. Let them face the people and say security has improved.”
Yusuf lamented that the President has remained silent on the North’s security crisis, focusing instead on revenue collection.
“The President doesn’t speak about our insecurity. He’s only interested in taxes. Under him, insecurity has worsened. Our land in the North is drenched in blood; we are burying our dead daily. He should not claim security has improved.”
