Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election and a leading opposition figure, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either resign or abandon any plan to seek re-election, citing worsening insecurity and what he described as a lack of compassion in governance.
Obi made the call in a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, following his visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over the prolonged captivity of schoolchildren abducted more than 50 days ago.
The former Anambra State governor said the Federal Government’s response to the kidnapping and other security challenges reflects a collapse of governance, arguing that Nigerians are increasingly feeling abandoned.
According to him, the consequences of poor leadership are becoming more evident nationwide, adding that citizens’ frustration risks turning into deep resentment if urgent action is not taken.
He expressed sympathy with the government and people of Oyo State, noting that they had every reason to feel bitter over the continued captivity of the abducted schoolchildren.
“The ultimate cost of uncompassionate leadership, as evident in the country today, is turning citizens’ frustration into deep, volatile resentment,” Obi said.
“It is even more traumatising when the leader presiding over that collapse demonstrates clear incapacity and a lack of compassion.
“The government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren without any tangible effort toward their rescue, should rightly feel bitter and abandoned.”
Obi added that he had consistently spoken on the issue and personally reached out to Governor Makinde to express solidarity, noting that he visited Ibadan on July 3 alongside political economist Prof. Pat Utomi.
He said the visit was aimed at identifying with the state government and families of the victims, stressing that insecurity in Nigeria should be treated as a national crisis rather than a state issue.
The opposition leader also recalled how previous administrations responded swiftly to security crises, saying former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan regularly engaged governors during similar incidents.
Obi further claimed he was surprised that President Tinubu had allegedly not contacted Governor Makinde over the abduction, describing it as a break from past presidential practice.
