Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either resign or abandon any plan to seek re-election in 2027, accusing his administration of failing to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his X account on Monday after visiting Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted more than 50 days ago in Oriire Local Government Area.
The former Anambra State governor said the prolonged detention of the pupils and teachers reflects what he described as a failure of leadership and a lack of compassion for victims of insecurity. He argued that many Nigerians now feel abandoned as violent attacks continue across the country.
According to Obi, he had repeatedly spoken out about the Oyo school abduction, appealed for the children’s release, and personally contacted Governor Makinde to express solidarity. He added that he travelled to Ibadan on July 3 with political economist Prof. Pat Utomi to sympathise with the state government and the families of the victims.
During the visit, Obi said he shared his experience handling security challenges while serving as governor of Anambra State. He recalled that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan regularly contacted state governors whenever major security crises occurred.
Obi said he was surprised to learn from Makinde that President Tinubu had allegedly not reached out to the Oyo governor since the abduction.
Drawing comparisons with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, Obi noted that the incident attracted widespread national and international attention. He recalled that Tinubu was among those who strongly criticised former President Jonathan over the delay in contacting the Borno State governor.
“I vividly recall that the current President, Bola Tinubu, led a team of vocal critics who called for President Jonathan’s immediate resignation over the incident,” Obi said, adding that the same standard should now apply.
The Labour Party leader further claimed that more than 13 school kidnappings had occurred under the current administration, arguing that the continued attacks demonstrate a collapse in governance and national security.
He concluded by urging Tinubu to put Nigeria’s interests above politics.
“The President should either resign or, at the very least, abstain from seeking re-election for the sake of our dear country. This call is patriotic, not political. A New Nigeria is Possible,” Obi stated.
The Presidency had not responded to Obi’s latest remarks as of the time of filing this report.
