APC Blasts Peter Obi Over Reaction to U.S. Designation of Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has criticised the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, over his response to the recent designation of Nigeria by the United States as a “country of particular concern.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Hon. Seye Oladejo, the party accused Obi of exploiting a sensitive national issue for political advantage instead of showing true statesmanship.

Oladejo said Obi’s delayed reaction to the development revealed a lack of patriotic conviction, claiming that his eventual response came only after public pressure.

“For a man always seeking microphones and hashtags, his sudden silence was deafening — until well-meaning Nigerians began to publicly question it,” the statement read.

“It has become clear that Obi did not speak out of patriotic instinct, but out of public pressure and fear of further exposing his double standards,” he added.

The APC described Obi’s remarks as “too little, too late, and too predictable,” saying they lacked sincerity, urgency, and a unifying spirit.

“A man who claims to desire national leadership should not require public reminders to speak when his nation’s image is at stake. Leadership is proactive, not reactive — and certainly not driven by online agitation,” Oladejo said.

The statement further accused Obi of thriving politically on national crises, alleging that he views the country’s challenges as opportunities for personal political revival.

“Peter Obi appears content only when Nigeria is under pressure, believing every challenge for the nation is an opportunity for his political resurrection. That is not patriotism; it is sour politics born from electoral heartbreak,” it said.

Defending President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the APC maintained that the president inherited existing security challenges but has been addressing them through strategic reforms.

“President Tinubu is confronting insecurity with courage and strategy — strengthening military command, deploying modern technology, and tackling the economic roots of insecurity through bold reforms,” Oladejo stated.

The party urged Obi to decide whether to “stand with Nigeria or persist in political desperation,” stressing that leadership demands maturity and consistency.

“Nigeria will not bow to those rooting for its challenges to worsen. The public should stay focused on the Renewed Hope agenda and reject individuals who profit politically from national difficulty,” the statement concluded.