The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Nigerian Federal Government to launch a “national war” on the country’s rising insecurity.
Obi in a statement posted on his social media handles last night argued that the high number of casualties from violence across the nation is now comparable to that of countries engulfed in active armed conflict.
The former governor of Anambra State’s remarks came after a violent weekend in which more than 100 people were killed in attacks spanning Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and Edo states. Obi pointed to the devastating headlines from the weekend.
The 64-year-old highlighted several specific incidents, including the deaths of eight Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers, the abduction of a Chinese citizen and numerous travelers on a key roadway in Edo, and the killing of five soldiers and 58 civilians in Borno.
He stated these events are not isolated but rather a clear indication that Nigeria is facing a severe security crisis. Obi emphasised that when so many lives are lost in a single weekend, it signifies that the country’s casualty count is on par with that of nations at war.
He insisted that the government must stop treating the situation as “business as usual” and instead declare a full-scale national war on insecurity.
This, he suggested, would involve mobilizing all available resources, agencies, and states, and setting aside all other distractions to focus solely on restoring law and order.
The former governor offered his condolences to the families of those who died, praising the bravery of the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the safety of others. He insisted that their killers must be caught and prosecuted to ensure their sacrifices are not in vain.
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Furthermore, Obi urged government officials to halt all foreign trips until the security situation improves. He stressed that effective leadership requires officials to be present at home, personally directing the fight against insecurity.
He warned that traveling abroad to attract investors while the country is in crisis is a form of denial, as no investor would be willing to enter a conflict zone. Obi noted that no country can flourish when its citizens live in fear.
Citing Somalia and Libya as cautionary tales, he warned that insecurity is the quickest route to national failure. He ended his appeal by urging immediate and bold action to prevent Nigeria from falling into total anarchy and to transform it into a safe and productive nation for all.
