₦airaland Forum

Former governor of Anambra State and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has decried the suicide bombings that rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 poll also urged President Bola Tinubu to cancel his UK state visit and visit communities ravaged by terrorists and bandits.

Mr Obi, in a statement on Tuesday, described Nigeria as “a nation under siege,” highlighting the failure of government in its core duty of protecting lives and property.

The nation is once again engulfed in grief and outrage following the horrific explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday.

These tragic events serve as a painful reminder of how far we have strayed from the fundamental duty of governance: the protection of lives and property,” Mr Obi said.

He added, “The fact that several innocent Nigerians can be killed in multiple coordinated attacks, with over a hundred others injured in vulnerable places like markets and near hospitals, highlights a troubling reality. The silence from our nation in response to such atrocities indicates a disturbing normalisation of insecurity rather than a decisive confrontation with the issue.”

Mr Obi noted that the Maiduguri attacks and other attacks recorded in other states in recent times were a test of Nigeria’s security architecture, calling on Mr Tinubu to jettison the UK trip and attend to domestic security crisis.

In light of recent attacks in Kwara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Sokoto, Benue, and even within the Federal Capital Territory, the pattern of insecurity is deeply concerning. In some regions, such as Katsina, there are alarming reports of communities being coerced into paying a “Peace Tax” to armed groups just to avoid further attacks and ensure their survival,” Mr Obi said.

He said, “These moments test not only our security architecture but also the very essence of leadership. Such a grave national emergency requires immediate presence, attention, and action. It is crucial to cancel any planned trips to visit affected communities in favour of prioritizing efforts to safeguard lives.”

A spokesperson for Mr Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, dismissed Mr Obi’s position as one coming from someone who has no idea of how governance works.

How do you expect Peter Obi to know how governance works? The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces which consists of police, SSS, and other paramilitary organisations.

“The president is supported by vice president, ministers and other aides. That’s how nations and systems work. But since Mr Obi is a trader, buying and selling, he doesn’t believe in delegation. Everything he does he does by himself. That’s why he will not know. I dont expect him to know because he doesn’t have a clear idea of what it takes to run a country,” Mr Bwala said.

The presidential spokesperson said Mr Obi’s on Mr Tinubu to cancel his UK state visit was unnecessary, adding that security agencies had been mobilised to tackle internal security issues.

On Monday, suicide bombers attacked Maiduguri, Borno State capital, killing 23 and injuring scores in three attacks.

Segunbabba:
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 poll also urged President Bola Tinubu to cancel his UK state visit and visit communities ravaged by terrorists and bandits.

budaatum:
I am Obidient, but this is nonsense talk. Obi wouldn't cancel the visit if he were president while Nigeria burned, though I'd like to believe (meaning, I don't know and I'm not certain, but hope), Nigeria wouldn't be burning if Obi were president.

The trip was planned months ago, and it would be rude and stupid to cancel it and not do the business that would be done on this visit.

bentenny:
If you were about to head to an important occasion that was planned months ago only to be informed that your house was on fire with your family members inside,would you continue embarking on the journey to that occasion and believe the fire service will do their duties in saving your family members?

Several presidents have cut short an important trip to a country due to violence that took place in a certain part of their country....an African president once left an occasion in a developed nation to return back to the country when he was informed about a tragic incident in his country.

Tinubu could have delayed his trip to UK and nothing would have happened!
On the contrary,he will be respected more as a president who cares about his own people!

Let's stop normalizing the body language of the president who doesn't seem to care about who lives and who dies in his country!

budaatum:
There's like 250 million Nigerians, so the houses burning and "violence that took place in a certain part of their country", a burning and violence that has been going on for like decades now, is not enough for our president to cancel a trip that was planned months ago and that might be about improving the fire brigade and seeking advise so fewer houses burn and violence is reduced.

If you think your current president does not care, please elect a different person who does care at the next election. That's why we have democracy.

And please consider my prefered candidate, if only because he is not APC, if you can't think of a better reason.

bentenny:
@highlighted justifies Obi's stance because if there was a president who cared,he won't be celebrating in another man's country while his own seems to be on fire!

budaatum:
Then join me in voting for my Obi next time please, so we can be led by a better leader who cares and "won't (or might not) be celebrating in another man's country while his own seems to be on fire!"

That's how we justify my Obi's stance. By ensuring he gete the most votes.

jogojogo:
Under which party biko

Yokoyama:
Same Obi travel to Gambia

bentenny:
If you were about to head to an important occasion that was planned months ago only to be informed that your house was on fire with your family members inside,would you continue embarking on the journey to that occasion and believe the fire service will do their duties in saving your family members?

Several presidents have cut short an important trip to a country due to violence that took place in a certain part of their country....an African president once left an occasion in a developed nation to return back to the country when he was informed about a tragic incident in his country.

Tinubu could have delayed his trip to UK and nothing would have happened!
On the contrary,he will be respected more as a president who cares about his own people!

Let's stop normalizing the body language of the president who doesn't seem to care about who lives and who dies in his country!

Kizyte:
Person house dey born, the person dey chase rat. That's Tinubu for you

budaatum:
I am Obidient, but this is nonsense talk. Obi wouldn't cancel the visit if he were president while Nigeria burned, though I'd like to believe (meaning, I don't know and I'm not certain, but hope), Nigeria wouldn't be burning if Obi were president.

The trip was planned months ago, and it would be rude and stupid to cancel it and not do the business that would be done on this visit.

budaatum:
I am Obidient, but this is nonsense talk. Obi wouldn't cancel the visit if he were president while Nigeria burned, though I'd like to believe (meaning, I don't know and I'm not certain, but hope), Nigeria wouldn't be burning if Obi were president.

The trip was planned months ago, and it would be rude and stupid to cancel it and not do the business that would be done on this visit.

budaatum:
I am Obidient, but this is nonsense talk. Obi wouldn't cancel the visit if he were president while Nigeria burned, though I'd like to believe (meaning, I don't know and I'm not certain, but hope), Nigeria wouldn't be burning if Obi were president.

The trip was planned months ago, and it would be rude and stupid to cancel it and not do the business that would be done on this visit.

mrvitalis:
Obi I know would never request and lobby for a state visit... Na absolutely not

Obi I know won't dare travel when a bomb blast happens in his country as president

Obi I know would he in bro no as we speak

If by chance be travels his NSA and defence minister won't dare travel with him

Obi won't park governors for a senseless state visit