Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his handling of insecurity, claiming Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde told him he had not received a single phone call from the President since the abduction of 37 pupils and teachers in the state.
In a statement shared on social media, Obi said he visited Governor Makinde in Ibadan on 3 July and was surprised to learn that the President had allegedly not contacted the governor more than 50 days after the abduction.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped by armed assailants during an attack on a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on 15 May.
Obi said he had previously spoken publicly about the incident and appealed to the abductors to release the victims. He added that he had also contacted Makinde on two occasions to express solidarity with the state government.
According to the former Anambra State governor, he travelled to Ibadan alongside economist Pat Utomi to discuss the worsening security situation and share his experience in responding to security challenges while serving as governor.
Obi said that during his time in office, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan personally reached out whenever Anambra experienced major security incidents.
He contrasted that experience with what he described as the Federal Government’s response to the Oyo abduction.
“But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu,” Obi said.
The former presidential candidate also referenced the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, recalling that Tinubu, then an opposition leader, criticised former President Goodluck Jonathan and called for his resignation over his handling of the crisis.
Obi argued that the current administration has witnessed more than 13 school abductions, accusing the President of failing to demonstrate sufficient leadership and compassion in responding to the incidents.
He maintained that the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity reflected a collapse in governance and called on Tinubu to either resign from office or refrain from seeking re-election in 2027.
“This call is patriotic, not political. A new Nigeria is possible,” Obi stated.
The Presidency has not publicly responded to Obi’s claims.
