Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has issued a scathing call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately abandon his ongoing stay in France and return home to confront Nigeria’s escalating crises, particularly the unrelenting wave of insecurity ravaging the country.
In a strongly worded statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Obi described the situation in Nigeria as one of grave national emergency, questioning the President’s absence during what he called a critical and bloody chapter in the nation’s history.
> “I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entails that he immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country,” Obi wrote.
The former Anambra State governor warned that the country is rapidly descending into chaos, citing disturbing statistics and incidents that underscore a glaring leadership vacuum. According to him, more than 150 Nigerians have been killed in violent attacks over the past two weeks in the President’s absence — with Plateau and Zamfara states among the worst hit.
> “In just the two weeks you’ve been away, over 150 lives have been lost to violent attacks across the country. In the North East, leaders in Borno State are raising the alarm over the resurgence of insurgents, with both troops and civilians falling victim. In the South East, the bloodletting continues unabated — killings and abductions have become the norm,” Obi lamented.
He also decried repeated pipeline explosions in the oil-rich Niger Delta, describing them as glaring evidence of a nation in turmoil, and slammed Tinubu for what he sees as a lack of urgency.
> “Amid all these, the CEO of the troubling company called Nigeria is retreating in a faraway land — France — far removed from the epicenter of the crisis at home,” he added.
Obi emphasized that the primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property, questioning the logic of hosting a ‘retreat’ in a country whose own leaders have long secured peace and stability for their citizens.
> “One wonders the type of retreat going on in another country where peace has been secured by their leaders, while blood continues to flow on our streets back home,” he queried.
Calling for urgent leadership and decisive action, Obi urged Tinubu to drop whatever he is doing abroad and return to confront the harsh realities facing Nigerians.
> “The fight for a better Nigeria is not about individuals. It is about ensuring that every citizen can see, feel, and benefit from the policies and decisions of those in power. I therefore urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and return to take responsibility for these disturbing developments,” Obi concluded.
As tensions rise and citizens continue to express discontent with the government’s handling of security, Obi’s bold remarks strike a chord with a growing number of Nigerians who are demanding accountability, leadership, and immediate action in the face of growing national turmoil.
PIONEER NEWS 