The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges, saying the country needs decisive leadership from the highest office.
Speaking during an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Obi said he would personally take charge of efforts to combat insecurity if elected president, stressing that security crises require direct presidential involvement and strong political will.
The former Anambra State governor dismissed suggestions that opposition politicians or international developments are primarily responsible for the country’s worsening insecurity. Instead, he argued that the government has the authority and capacity to address the situation if there is genuine commitment from its leadership.
Obi maintained that the fight against terrorism and violent crime must have a clear chain of command, insisting that the government—not criminal groups—should be firmly in control.
Citing the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State as an example, Obi said he would have relocated to the state and remained there until the victims were rescued if he had been president.
He recalled adopting a similar approach while serving as governor of Anambra State, noting that he personally monitored major security incidents until they were resolved.
Obi also praised the leadership style of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, revealing that the former president maintained daily contact with him during one of Anambra’s worst armed robbery crises despite belonging to different political parties.
According to him, such commitment demonstrated the level of leadership required during periods of national insecurity.
Speaking further, Obi said, “For insecurity, one person must be in charge, and if I’m in office, I will be in charge. If 40 children were kidnapped, I would personally be on the ground until they were rescued. That is the kind of leadership the country needs.”
He added that attributing Nigeria’s insecurity to opposition figures or global events was misplaced, insisting that the crisis could be addressed through firm political will and decisive action.
Obi also questioned President Tinubu’s capacity to effectively manage the nation’s security challenges, claiming that the President had not demonstrated the level of engagement expected during critical security situations. He referenced comments allegedly made by Seyi Makinde that the President had not contacted him following recent security concerns in the state.
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