Former Presidential Candidate Ndu Calls Nigeria a “Failed State,” Demands National Debate

Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, a former presidential candidate, has described Nigeria as a “failed state,” blaming insecurity, economic hardship, and poor governance. He criticised major political parties for focusing on the 2027 elections instead of solving national problems and called for a national presidential debate involving key political figures to discuss practical solutions.

Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, a politician and former presidential candidate of the defunct African Renaissance Party, has issued a strong warning about Nigeria’s current condition, describing the country as a “failed state” that is struggling across nearly all sectors.
In a statement released on Friday in Enugu, Ndu expressed deep concern over what he described as worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and ineffective governance. He argued that both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and major opposition parties lack clear ideology and have become more focused on positioning themselves for the 2027 general elections than addressing the country’s immediate challenges.
According to him, the political space has shifted away from meaningful governance discussions toward electioneering and personal ambition. He criticised party activities and conventions, saying they are largely centred on strategies for winning elections rather than offering concrete solutions to Nigeria’s problems.
Ndu, who is known for pioneering Nigeria’s first presidential debate in Enugu in 1992, challenged leading political figures including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi to engage in a structured and substantive debate on national issues. He said such a debate should focus on practical solutions to insecurity, economic instability, and other pressing national concerns rather than political rhetoric.
He also extended the challenge to other prominent political figures such as former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, insisting that Nigeria urgently needs a platform where leaders can openly present and defend their policy ideas.
Ndu further proposed the creation of a national forum he called the “Ernest Ikoli Memorial Presidential Debate,” named after the late journalist and nationalist Ernest Ikoli. He argued that Nigeria has failed to properly honour Ikoli’s legacy and that such a debate would help revive serious political discourse in the country.
The former presidential candidate also criticised what he described as the growing distraction of social media debates focused on whether President Tinubu’s second term is guaranteed, saying such conversations ignore the deeper structural problems facing the nation.
He called on professional and socio-cultural organisations to take responsibility for facilitating a national dialogue. Among those he listed were the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum, and PANDEF. He said these groups should work together to organise a meaningful platform for national discussion.
Ndu warned that if Nigeria continues on its current path, the consequences could be severe not only for the country but for the entire African continent. He stressed that Nigeria’s stability is critical to Africa’s future and cautioned that continued decline would have far-reaching implications.
He concluded by reiterating that Nigeria is “almost a failed state,” urging urgent collective action to prevent further deterioration.