Resign or forget 2027 ambition over insecurity, Peter Obi tells Tinubu

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either resign from office or abandon any plans to seek re-election in 2027, citing the worsening state of insecurity across the country.

Obi made the call in a statement issued on Monday, expressing concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State more than 50 days ago.

Following a visit to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the former Anambra State governor said the prolonged delay in rescuing the victims reflects a failure of leadership and governance.

Obi also claimed he was surprised to learn that President Tinubu had allegedly not contacted Governor Makinde over the abduction.

He recalled that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan regularly reached out to state governors during major security crises.

“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 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, Obi noted that Tinubu was among those who criticised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan over its handling of the incident.

He argued that several school abductions have occurred under the current administration, yet there has been little visible presidential engagement.

According to Obi, the continued wave of kidnappings and insecurity across the country demonstrates a lack of capacity and compassion on the part of the Federal Government.

He maintained that, in the interest of Nigerians, President Tinubu should either resign from office or shelve any ambition to seek a second term in 2027.

The Presidency had yet to respond to Obi’s remarks as of the time of filing this report.