Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has declared Nigeria a disgraced country under President Bola Tinubu, citing worsening insecurity and internal wrangling in several opposition parties. In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, Obi painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s current security and political situation.
Obi referenced President Trump’s recent description of Nigeria as “now disgraced,” acknowledging that while many Nigerians were outraged by the characterization, the country’s current situation makes it difficult to dispute. He pointed to the alarming frequency of security incidents to justify this assessment
The former Anambra State governor highlighted several recent tragic events that underscore the severity of Nigeria’s security crisis:
- An attack on a girls’ school in Kebbi state
- The killing of a senior military officer (a general) along with other officers
- The kidnapping and murder of Christians in Kwara state
- Another troubling terror attack in Kwara state
Obi emphasized the scale of violence, noting that within just one week, 25 people were kidnapped and one general along with other military officers was killed.
According to Obi, despite these tragedies, the nation is distracted by political infighting rather than uniting to confront its challenges. He lamented that instead of rallying together during this critical moment, the country is consumed by internal party squabbles and distractions.
Obi drew a stark contrast between the current administration and that of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He recalled how during an internal crisis in his political party, President Yar’Adua instructed INEC chairman Professor Maurice Iwu that the stability of every political party—not just the ruling party—was essential for democracy, and that no party should be undermined.
Obi alleged that the current government seems more intent on weakening parties than strengthening democracy, actively seeking to fragment the PDP, Labour Party, SDP, and other opposition parties. This represents a serious accusation that the Tinubu administration is deliberately fostering internal conflicts within opposition parties to weaken potential political rivals.
Concluding his statement, Obi outlined his vision of proper democratic governance, stating that in democratic nations, opposition is respected, elections reflect the will of the people, and governance involves carrying everyone along for peace and prosperity.
This statement from Peter Obi, who was a major opposition candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, represents one of his strongest criticisms of the Tinubu administration to date. The combination of security failures and alleged political manipulation of opposition parties forms the core of his argument that Nigeria’s democratic institutions are under threat.
The timing of the statement, following multiple high-profile security incidents and amid ongoing internal crises in various opposition parties, suggests Obi is positioning himself as a voice calling for both improved security and the protection of democratic norms in Nigeria.
