Rights advocate says silence over foreign missile strikes exposes a presidency that answers to institutions, not citizens
Nigeria’s political space has erupted after a respected rights advocate, Professor Chidi Odinkalu made a blistering claim: President Bola Tinubu does not need the votes of Nigerians to hold power. Instead, he argued, control of institutions, not popular mandate now defines political survival, a reality he says explains a presidency that can afford silence even amid reports of foreign missile strikes on Nigerian territory.
“Votes Don’t Matter Anymore”
Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, delivered the stark assessment while speaking on Inside Sources on Channels Television.
According to Odinkalu, a president who truly depended on the electorate would not act with what he described as disregard for the safety, dignity, and worth of citizens. He argued that Nigeria’s elections have reached a point where outcomes are shaped less by voters and more by institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary.
Commander-in-Chief “Missing in Action”
While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu as an exceptionally skilled politician, Odinkalu drew a sharp distinction between political maneuvering and constitutional duty.
He accused the president of being absent in his most critical role — commander-in-chief — particularly during reports of foreign military action on Nigerian soil, a situation he said demanded immediate and direct communication with the nation.
Silence Over Missiles, Noise Over Politics
Odinkalu questioned why the presidency found time to issue statements on infrastructure financing, attend cultural events, and publicly commiserate with sports figures, yet remained silent on a serious national security development.
For him, the silence was not accidental but revealing.
“That silence,” he suggested, “is itself a statement.”
Foreign Action, Local Leadership Vacuum
The former rights chief stressed that his concern was not about the actions of the United States or any foreign power, but about Nigeria’s leadership vacuum at a moment of national risk.
He questioned the symbolism of a president spending the New Year abroad while reports of missile strikes dominated public discourse at home, asking why Nigerians were denied a direct explanation from their own leader.
Institutions Speaking, President Absent
Odinkalu noted that official explanations came from political aides and ministers rather than the defence hierarchy or the president himself, calling it a deeply troubling inversion of command responsibility.
He emphasised that while many presidential duties can be delegated, the role of commander-in-chief is not one of them.
A Damning Verdict
Drawing on decades of experience working on conflict and governance across Africa, Odinkalu concluded that people under threat will accept help from anywhere — but leadership requires accountability and transparency.
In his assessment, the president has fundamentally abdicated the most important responsibility of his office — a failure he says is only possible in a system where power no longer truly flows from the ballot box.
