Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in France and return to Nigeria to confront the escalating security crisis engulfing the nation.
In a strongly worded statement on his X handle, wednesday morning Obi expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of security, accusing the President of being absent at a time when decisive leadership is most needed.
“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,” Obi said. “This 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 highlighted that within the two weeks of the President’s absence, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity particularly in Plateau and Zamfara states. He also referenced the resurgence of insurgent attacks in Borno State, repeated pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta, and ongoing killings and abductions in the South East.
“In the North East, Borno State leaders are bemoaning the return of insurgency, with troops and civilians being killed randomly. In the South East, the story is the same: killings and abduction,” he said.
He criticized what he termed the President’s detachment from the crisis. “Amid all these, the CEO of the troubling company called Nigeria is retreating in a faraway land in France from the company’s headquarters,” Obi remarked.
Obi emphasized that the primary responsibility of any government is to safeguard the lives and property of its 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 in our country,” he added.
Calling for urgent action, Obi urged President Tinubu to return home immediately and assume responsibility. “I therefore urge Mr. President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues,” he said.
He concluded by stating, “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. That is the new Nigeria the nation seeks.”