The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cut short his ongoing retreat in France and urgently return to Nigeria in light of the escalating security crisis across the country.
Obi, in a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, expressed deep concern over the rising wave of violence and killings in several parts of the country, particularly in Plateau and Borno States, during the President’s two-week absence.
According to him, over 150 lives have been lost to violent attacks during this period, reflecting what he described as an “apparent absence of governance.”
“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 stated.
He further highlighted that the situation in the Niger Delta, North-East, and South-East regions has deteriorated significantly, with reports of pipeline explosions, resurging insurgency, abductions, and random killings.
“The primary duty of any government is securing the lives and property of its citizens, and 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.
Obi emphasized that the pursuit of a better Nigeria transcends partisan interests and personalities, calling on the President to take full responsibility and provide leadership at a time when Nigerians need it most.
“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,” Obi wrote.
“That is the New Nigeria that the nation seeks. A New Nigeria is Possible.”