By Henry Umoru
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s failure to adopt a reactive approach in tackling insecurity, as he calls for a holistic and coordinated response in addressing the country’s worsening security crisis.
Obi, in a statement titled “What Our Pervasive Insecurity Requires: A Holistic, Not Reactive Approach,” expressed concern over reports that Tinubu approved the recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State, describing the move as evidence of inadequate leadership and a piecemeal approach to governance and national security.
According to the former Anambra State governor, while increasing security personnel is necessary, such interventions should be guided by a clearly defined national framework rather than ad hoc decisions.
Drawing parallels with the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, Obi argued that poorly coordinated policy decisions have continued to impose significant hardship on Nigerians and weaken the economy.
He noted that insecurity remains a national challenge affecting virtually all parts of the country, citing Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo and Sokoto states among areas facing severe security threats.
Obi questioned whether the approval granted to Oyo State would be replicated across all states and the Federal Capital Territory or whether such decisions were being made selectively.
The NDC presidential candidate also raised concerns about the implications for existing regional security initiatives, including the Amotekun Corps in the South-West.
According to him, the country’s insecurity crisis is largely a consequence of leadership failure, adding that more than 10,000 innocent Nigerians have reportedly lost their lives since 2023.
Obi maintained that addressing insecurity requires what he described as an “ecosystem approach” that tackles governance, economic development, youth employment and social stability simultaneously.
He argued that leadership failures have negatively impacted national unity, industrialisation, agriculture, tourism, mineral development and other critical sectors capable of generating jobs and economic growth.
Despite the challenges, Obi expressed optimism that Nigeria could still achieve sustainable prosperity under responsible leadership.
The statement by Ibrahim Umar, POMR spokesman, read, “Obi drew a parallel between this approach and the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the Naira, which he argued have inflicted significant and lasting harm on ordinary citizens and the national economy. While acknowledging the importance of increasing security personnel nationwide, he stressed that such measures should be implemented through a more structured and carefully considered process.
“He highlighted that insecurity is a widespread problem affecting nearly all 36 states, with Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo, and Sokoto experiencing particularly alarming situations. Obi questioned whether approval for forest guard recruitment in Oyo would be extended uniformly to all states, totalling 37,000 guards across the 36 states and Abuja, or whether such decisions are arbitrary and dependent on the President’s disposition.
“Furthermore, he raised concerns about the potential impact on existing security outfits, such as the Amotekun Corps in the South-West, which are actively working to secure the region. Obi asserted that the pervasive insecurity is a direct consequence of systemic failures, particularly in leadership. He attributed the deaths of over 10,000 innocent Nigerians since 2023 and Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s most terror-affected countries to this leadership deficit.
According to Obi, effectively tackling insecurity necessitates a comprehensive, or ‘ecosystem,’ approach.
He concluded by stating that leadership failures lead to a breakdown in national unity, industrial development, the effective utilisation of the nation’s vast resources in agriculture, minerals, tourism, water, sports, and even oil and gas for revenue generation, economic growth, and, crucially, job creation for the burgeoning youth population.
Obi expressed optimism that a new, prosperous Nigeria is achievable.
