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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election and a leading opposition figure ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either resign or abandon any plan to seek re-election, accusing his administration of failing to address the country’s worsening insecurity and showing what he described as a lack of compassion for victims.
Obi made the call in a statement released on Monday on X, 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 handling of the kidnapping and other security challenges reflected what he described as a collapse of governance, arguing that Nigerians were increasingly feeling abandoned.
According to him, the consequences of poor leadership were becoming more evident across the country. He expressed sympathy with the government and people of Oyo State, saying they had every reason to feel disappointed 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.
“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.”
He added that he had repeatedly spoken out on the incident and reached out to Makinde to express solidarity. He also explained that he travelled to Ibadan on July 3 alongside political economist Prof. Pat Utomi to identify with the state government and families of the victims.
He continued, “Since this unfortunate incident, I have spoken publicly about it twice, including appealing directly to the kidnappers to release the children.
“I also called the Governor twice to assure him of my solidarity, understanding that this issue is not just an Oyo problem but a Nigerian tragedy.
“On Friday, July 3, I decided to travel to Ibadan with Prof. Pat Utomi to express solidarity with the Governor, as more than 50 days had elapsed without the rescue of the children and with numerous others still being held captive across the country.”
He further stated that he used the meeting to share his experience as governor of Anambra State in dealing with security challenges, recalling the support previous presidents gave state governors during periods of insecurity.
According to him, he was surprised to learn that Tinubu had allegedly not contacted Makinde over the abduction.
“During our two-hour meeting, I shared my experience in addressing insecurity as Governor of Anambra State. I recalled how President Olusegun Obasanjo, and later Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan would personally call us several times whenever we faced major security challenges.
“But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu”, he stated.
While drawing a comparison with the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Obi recalled that the incident attracted widespread criticism, including from Tinubu.
He added that Tinubu had been among those who strongly criticised Jonathan at the time. “I remember the only case of a school kidnapping during President Goodluck Jonathan’s era – the Chibok girls.
“It drew local and international attention. Even though the security agencies provided almost daily updates on their efforts, Nigerians and the rest of the world were outraged that it took President Jonathan over two weeks to call the then State chief Executive.
“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, citing his delay in calling the state governor.
“That call for IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION should actually be the case in this matter.”
The Labour Party chieftain further argued that the country had witnessed several school kidnappings under the current administration without what he considered sufficient presidential engagement.
He maintained that the continued abduction of schoolchildren and other Nigerians underscored what he described as a failure of governance.
“Today, under President Tinubu, there have been more than 13 school kidnappings, yet the President has found it difficult to call the affected state’s chief executive after more than 50 days (over 7 weeks). This is outrageous. I suspect the same may also have been the case in other school kidnapping incidents.
“I cannot imagine any issue more important than the lives of our kidnapped children, their teachers, and the many other Nigerians being held captive across the country. It is now an indisputable fact that governance has completely collapsed under this administration.”
He accused the administration of lacking both the capacity and compassion required to address the nation’s challenges. However, he urged Tinubu to step aside in the national interest.
“The situation reflects a total lack of capacity and compassion, compounded by glaring insensitivity. Amid such an apparent display of incompetence, 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”, the statement concluded
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