The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s ability to effectively address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, insisting that decisive leadership is essential to restoring peace.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the former Anambra State governor said he would personally take responsibility for combating insecurity if elected president.
According to Obi, the country’s security crisis requires strong leadership from the highest level of government, arguing that the President must be directly involved in coordinating efforts to tackle criminal activities.
He dismissed suggestions that the growing insecurity is primarily driven by opposition politicians or international developments, maintaining that the government has the authority and capacity to confront the problem if there is sufficient political will.
Obi stressed that the battle against terrorism and other forms of violent crime must have a clear commander, insisting that the government—not criminal groups—should always be in control.
As an example, he referenced the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Oyo State, stating that if he had been president, he would have travelled to the state immediately and remained there until the victims were rescued.
The former governor said he adopted a similar leadership style while serving in Anambra State, personally overseeing responses to major security incidents.
He also recalled that during one of the state’s most serious armed robbery attacks, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua stayed in regular contact with him until the crisis was resolved despite their political differences, describing the gesture as an example of effective presidential leadership.
Obi said, “When it comes to insecurity, one person must take responsibility, and if I am in office, that responsibility will be mine. If 40 children were abducted into the forest, I would personally remain in the affected state until they were safely rescued. That is exactly how I handled similar situations in Anambra. During one of our worst robbery incidents, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua called me every day until the matter was resolved, even though we belonged to different political parties.
“It is unreasonable to blame Nigeria’s insecurity on opposition politicians or global events. What is needed is political will. Either the government is in control or the terrorists are. If I become president, the government will be in charge. President Tinubu does not have the capacity. I was in Ibadan recently, and Governor Seyi Makinde told me the President had never called him. I find that difficult to understand.”