Obi Blames Soaring Insecurity On Tinubu’s ‘Comfort-Driven Governance’

 

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over what he described as Nigeria’s rapid slide into chaos, accusing President Bola Tinubu of prioritising “comfort and politics” over the demands of serious governance.

Obi, in a statement released on Sunday night, lamented that the past ten days had exposed the depth of Nigeria’s security and institutional breakdown, insisting that the tragedies were not coincidental but the outcome of leadership failure at the highest levels.

According to him, the spate of killings, abductions and attacks across states paints a disturbing picture of a nation “adrift without competent and compassionate leadership.”

‘Nigeria is bleeding’

Obi said Nigeria’s daily tragedies should trouble the conscience of those in power, noting that citizens are now unsafe in their homes, schools, roads and even places of worship.

The former Anambra governor reeled out incidents that occurred within just ten days:

Nov 11: Kidnap of six senior Ministry of Defence directors along the Kogi axis.

Nov 15: Execution of a Brigadier General.

Nov 16: Abduction of 64 civilians in Zamfara.

Nov 17: Kidnap of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi and killing of a vice principal.

Nov 18: Attack on worshippers in Kwara, where about 38 were abducted.

Nov 18: Security mishandling of the disturbance at the PDP’s Wadata Plaza.

Nov 18: Judges at the All Nigeria Judges’ Conference standing as the APC’s campaign song was played before the President’s arrival.

Nov 19: Soldiers ambushed while heading to rescue the Kebbi schoolgirls.

Nov 21: Abduction of over 300 schoolchildren and 12 teachers in Niger State.

Nov 22: Farmer killed in Kaduna.

Nov 23: Five policemen shot dead in Bauchi.

Obi added that while reacting to these events, he received yet another report about the abduction of 13 female farmers in Borno by suspected terrorist groups.

‘Leadership has chosen politics over people’

He faulted what he described as the government’s indifference, insisting that no nation grows when its leaders operate on excuses and political convenience.

“What we are witnessing is not inevitable; it is the direct consequence of leaders who do not value human life,” he said. “Those elected to protect the nation have chosen comfort over courage, politics over people, and power over purpose.”

Obi said the incident at the judges’ conference — where a partisan tune was played before a gathering of the judiciary — further eroded public trust in institutions meant to safeguard the rule of law.

Call for responsible governance

He called for leadership that is competent, responsive and empathetic, stressing that public office is a duty, not a ceremonial position.

“Governance is not a title; it is an obligation to protect every community, every child and every citizen,” he said, assuring Nigerians that recovery remains possible despite the bleak present.

“To every Nigerian shaken in these past 10 days, my heart is with you. We deserve a government that values our lives above politics. Nigeria must rise again.”