Peter Obi calls on Tinubu to resign over rising insecurity

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

In a statement issued on Monday, Obi expressed 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, Obi said the prolonged delay in securing the release of 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 reached out to Governor Makinde regarding the abduction.

He noted that past presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan, routinely contacted state governors during major security crises.

Obi warned that what he described as “uncompassionate leadership” risks deepening public frustration and resentment across the country.

“It is even more traumatising when the leader presiding over that collapse demonstrates clear incapacity and a lack of compassion,” he said.

“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.”

Drawing comparisons with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, Obi recalled that Tinubu had criticised former President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the incident. He argued that despite repeated school kidnappings under the current administration, there has been little visible presidential engagement.

According to Obi, the continued wave of abductions and insecurity in the country reflects a lack of capacity and compassion at the federal level.

He insisted that, in the interest of Nigerians, President Tinubu should either step down or drop any plans to seek a second term in office.