“Nigeria in Distress”: Peter Obi Slams Tinubu’s France Visit Amid Soaring Insecurity at Home

 

Peter Obi Faults Tinubu’s Absence as Insecurity Crisis Grips Nigeria

As Nigeria continues to grapple with intensifying violence and unrest, former presidential candidate and Labour Party stalwart Peter Obi has sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being absent from the country during what he described as a period of national emergency.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and prominent opposition figure, raised concerns over what he called a deteriorating security landscape across various parts of the country. In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, Obi condemned Tinubu’s ongoing stay in France, which the presidency has described as a “working visit,” arguing that such a retreat was ill-timed and irresponsible.

“Amid all these, the CEO of the troubling company called Nigeria is retreating in a faraway land in France from the company’s headquarters,” Obi said, drawing a metaphor between Nigeria’s worsening situation and a floundering enterprise lacking effective leadership.

The former governor noted that the past two weeks have witnessed a spike in violent attacks, kidnappings, and deadly clashes in multiple regions of Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of over 150 citizens. He specifically highlighted the dire situations in Plateau and Zamfara states, both of which have seen brutal killings and abductions attributed to armed groups and criminal elements.

“The security challenges at home are too critical to be ignored or managed remotely,” Obi declared. “I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention… He must immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country.”

Obi further drew attention to the Niger Delta region, where recent pipeline explosions have raised environmental and economic alarms. He suggested that the repeated incidents are not isolated accidents but rather indicators of a broader systemic failure.

“The repeated pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta further reflect a nation in distress,” he said.

The situation in Borno State, the epicenter of Boko Haram’s decade-long insurgency, has also worsened according to Obi, with local leaders now reportedly expressing concerns over the resurgence of terrorist activities. He cited accounts of both military personnel and civilians falling victim to renewed attacks in the region.

“In the South-East, the story is the same: killings and abductions,” Obi added, referencing the increasing reports of violence and lawlessness that have plagued the region in recent months.

His criticism comes amid growing public unease over President Tinubu’s frequent foreign travels. While the administration has consistently maintained that such trips are vital for diplomatic engagement and economic partnerships, opposition leaders and civil society groups argue that these absences are becoming more difficult to justify, especially given the fragile domestic situation.

Obi’s statement has reignited debates around presidential accountability and crisis leadership. Many Nigerians on social media echoed his sentiments, demanding a more hands-on approach from the president, especially when lives are being lost daily across multiple states.

As the calls grow louder for the president to return and take charge of the country’s internal security challenges, it remains to be seen how the administration will respond—not just with statements, but with tangible actions aimed at stemming the wave of violence threatening the nation’s stability.

For Obi, the message is clear: the time for retreat is over. What Nigeria needs now, he emphasized, is a present and proactive leader who will confront the nation’s challenges head-on, not from the comfort of a foreign boardroom, but from the heart of the crisis at home.