Our Reporter, Abuja
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redirect his attention to domestic security challenges facing the country and return home immediately.
President Tinubu is currently in France on a two-week working visit, which the Presidency said will afford him time to evaluate his administration’s midterm performance and key milestones so far achieved.
“During the visit, the President will appraise his administration’s midterm performance and assess key milestones.”
The President “will also use the retreat to review progress in ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary,” a statement from the Presidency had said.
But taking to his official X handle on Wednesday, Peter Obi said in a statement that domestic problems beckon at home and called on President Tinubu to suspend forthwith, his retreat in a foreign land and return home to address the pressing security issues.
“I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entails that he immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country,” Obi wrote.
The Labour Party leader said his call had become necessary following rising incidents of crimes and criminalities all over Nigeria with an apparent lack of governance.
Below is the full text of my Peter Obi’s statement:
“I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entails that he immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country.
“This urgent call has become necessary following the rising incidents of crimes and criminalities all over Nigeria with an apparent absence of governance.
“In the 2 weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity across Nigeria, especially in Plateau and Zamfara states.
“The repeated pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta, further reflect a nation in distress.
“In the North East, Borno state leaders are bemoaning the return of insurgency with troops and civilians being killed randomly. In the South East, the story is the same: killings and abduction.
“Amid all these, the CEO of the troubling company called Nigeria is retreating far away land in France from the Company’s headquarters.
“The primary duty of any government is securing the lives and property of its citizens and one wonders the type of retreat going on in another country where peace has been secured by their leaders while blood continues to flow in our country
“The fight for a better Nigeria is not about individuals; it is about ensuring that every citizen can see, feel, and benefit from the policies and decisions of those in power.
“I, therefore like to urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues
“That is the new Nigeria that the nation seeks.
“A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO”
