The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over what he described as the Federal Government’s poor response to the prolonged captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states.
In a statement shared on his verified X account on Monday, Obi expressed concern over the continued detention of the pupils, accusing the President of demonstrating “incapacity and a lack of compassion” in handling the security crisis.
According to Obi, the inability of the government to secure the release of the victims reflects a deepening leadership crisis that is fueling frustration and resentment among Nigerians.
“It is even more traumatising when the leader presiding over that collapse demonstrates clear incapacity and a lack of compassion,” he said.
Obi noted that more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren in Oyo State, there had been no tangible progress toward their rescue, leaving both the state government and affected families feeling “bitter and abandoned.”
He disclosed that he had publicly spoken about the incident on two occasions, including appealing directly to the kidnappers to release the children. He also revealed that he had contacted Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde twice to express solidarity, describing the abduction as “a Nigerian tragedy” rather than a state issue.
Obi further stated that on Friday, July 3, he visited Ibadan alongside Professor Pat Utomi to sympathise with the governor and discuss the worsening insecurity after more than 50 days without the children’s rescue.
During the meeting, Obi said he shared his experience in tackling insecurity while serving as Governor of Anambra State, recalling that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan personally reached out to state governors whenever major security incidents occurred.
He said he was surprised to learn that Governor Makinde had not received a single phone call from President Tinubu regarding the abduction.
Drawing a comparison with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, Obi said the incident attracted widespread local and international attention and prompted regular security briefings, even though former President Goodluck Jonathan faced criticism for taking more than two weeks to contact the Borno State governor.
Obi maintained that compassionate leadership is essential during periods of national crisis, warning that failure to demonstrate empathy and decisive action could further erode public trust in government.
Comments