Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately end his current retreat in France and return to Nigeria to confront the escalating security crisis gripping the nation.
In a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Obi expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of national security, stating that the country is experiencing widespread violence and criminal activities in the apparent absence of effective governance.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, lamented the loss of over 150 lives within just two weeks, citing tragic events in Plateau and Zamfara states as stark examples of the country’s fragile security architecture. He emphasized that the primary responsibility of any government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens a responsibility he believes is currently being neglected.
“The President must urgently return home,” Obi wrote. “The situation has become critical, and it is unconscionable for the nation’s leader to be abroad while citizens are being massacred and communities are under siege.”
He also highlighted recurring incidents of pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta, the resurgence of insurgent attacks in Borno State, and growing instability in the South East, where abductions and killings continue to plague residents. According to Obi, these events signal a nation in distress one in desperate need of leadership, direction, and decisive action.
“In the midst of all this turmoil, the President, the Commander-in-Chief is attending a retreat in France, far from the chaos unfolding across Nigeria. One must question the relevance of such an engagement abroad, especially when the country is facing existential threats from within,” Obi stated.
He criticized what he sees as a disconnect between the government’s actions and the urgent needs of the people, describing the current administration’s priorities as misaligned. “Leaders in countries like France, where the President is reportedly staying, have done the work of securing their nations. Meanwhile, back home, Nigerian blood is being shed daily,” Obi added.
He further reiterated that his call is not motivated by political rivalry, but by patriotism and concern for the well-being of ordinary Nigerians. “This is not about politics or personal ambition. This is about responsibility. Nigerians deserve a government that is present, proactive, and people-centered.”
Obi concluded his statement by urging President Tinubu to swiftly return to the country and take charge of the worsening situation, asserting that genuine leadership is measured not by words or foreign engagements, but by tangible actions that safeguard the lives and dignity of every citizen.
“This is the new Nigeria we all seek one where leadership is accountable and responsive to the cries of the people,” Obi said.
