The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over what he described as an “unprecedented wave of negative news” across Nigeria within the last 10 days, attributing the situation to “collective leadership failures.”
In a statement on Monday, Obi warned that the country was sliding into an “avoidable state of disorder” due to escalating insecurity, rising lawlessness, and deepening institutional decay.
“The past 10 days in Nigeria have witnessed unprecedented negative news a level of chaos, insecurity, and institutional decay that should trouble the conscience of all leaders,” he said.
“Our country is now going through troubling times, not by fate, but by our collective leadership failures that allow insecurity, lawlessness, and institutional decay to thrive.”
Obi lamented that each passing day brings a new tragedy, adding that Nigeria is “drifting amid a clear absence of competent, compassionate, responsive, and responsible leadership.”
He listed a series of violent incidents that have occurred across the country, including the killing of a Brigadier General, the abduction of 64 civilians in Zamfara, the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi, the attack on worshippers in Kwara, and the abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren and teachers in Niger State.
Obi also condemned the latest attack in Borno State, where suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists abducted 13 female farmers in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. According to reports, the women were taken while returning from their farmlands. The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the incident and launched an investigation.
The former presidential candidate warned that “no serious nation survives on excuses, indifference, or absentee leadership,” arguing that Nigeria is “bleeding because those elected to protect the nation have chosen comfort over courage, politics over people, and power over purpose.”
Obi urged political leaders to prioritise competence, compassion, and accountability, emphasising that governance is a responsibility, not a title.
“We need competence, compassion, and a government that shows up when it matters the most,” he said.
“To every Nigerian shaken by the events of the past 10 days, my heart is with you. You deserve safety. You deserve peace. Nigeria must rise again.”
