Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has berated Nigeria’s political leadership for focusing on the next election while insecurity continues unabated across the country.
Obi raised this concern in a statement released on Monday via his official social media account.
The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over recent attacks in several parts of the country and the impact on civilians and security personnel.
According to Obi, the country is “clearly under siege,” with the scale of insecurity becoming increasingly unbearable.
“Our nation is clearly under siege, and the scale of insecurity is becoming unbearable, spreading widely all over the country,” he said.
He referenced the recent attack on the Ngoshe hamlet in Borno State, in which terrorists reportedly overcame soldiers and killed numerous civilians while kidnapping women and children.
“This week alone in Borno State’s Ngoshe community, terrorists overpowered soldiers, killing them and several citizens, while abducting more than 100 women and children, yet our leaders are silent,” Obi said, adding that the sacrifices of soldiers are often overlooked.
“The sacrifice of our brave and dedicated soldiers is passed in silence. I look forward to the day when our fallen soldiers are given the dignified burials they deserve, with their bodies received and honored by the nation’s leaders and political authorities,” he added.
The African Democratic Party chieftain also pointed to reports of insecurity in other states, including Nasarawa State, Kogi State, and Benue State, where he said residents had complained that terrorists were occupying farms and forests, disrupting economic activities, and forcing villagers to flee.
“In Nasarawa’s Kadarko area alone, 14,318 civilians are now registered as internally displaced persons,” he stated.
further cited cases of abductions and attacks in Oyo State and Ondo State, as well as violent incidents in Kebbi State where he said terrorists had carried out deadly attacks on security personnel and civilians.
Obi also expressed fears that insecurity had reportedly spread to the nation’s capital, citing the abduction of residents in Kubwa, Abuja.
“The wave of terror has now brazenly crept into our nation’s capital. The attack in Kubwa, Abuja, just this week saw about 19 citizens abducted from their homes, including women and children,” Obi said, describing the situation as a “grim reminder that insecurity is no longer distant but now the norm.”
He alleged that the political class is paying insufficient attention to the crisis.
“The ruling class is instead devastatingly more preoccupied with how to snatch, grab, and run away with the next election,” he said, adding that Nigerians deserve leadership that prioritizes safety and welfare.
“These are not just news items. Nigerians deserve commitment and leadership that puts their safety and welfare first. It is time to restore security, dignity, and hope to every corner of this nation,” Obi added.
