Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either resign from office or abandon any plan to seek re election in 2027, citing the worsening insecurity across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, Obi expressed concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State, who have remained in the hands of their captors for more than 50 days.
Following a visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Obi said the prolonged delay in rescuing the victims reflects a failure of leadership and governance.
The former Anambra State governor also said he was surprised to learn that President Tinubu had allegedly not contacted Governor Makinde over the abduction.
Obi noted that previous Nigerian presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, regularly communicated with state governors during major security crises.
According to him, the greatest consequence of leadership that lacks compassion is the growing frustration and resentment among citizens.
“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.” Obi said.
Drawing a comparison with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction, Obi noted that Tinubu was among those who criticised former President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the incident.
He argued that several school kidnappings have occurred under the current administration, yet there has been little visible presidential engagement.
Obi maintained that the continued wave of abductions and insecurity across the country demonstrates a lack of capacity and compassion on the part of the Federal Government.
He insisted that, in the interest of Nigerians, President Tinubu should either step down from office or shelve any ambition of seeking a second term in 2027.
