Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend his ongoing two-week working retreat in France and return home to address the rising insecurity across Nigeria.
President Tinubu departed for France on April 2, 2025, for a strategic retreat to review his administration’s midterm performance and plan ahead of its second anniversary. However, during his absence, the country has experienced a surge in violent attacks, killings, and abductions, particularly in Plateau, Benue, and Zamfara states.
🔥 Obi to Tinubu: “Return and Lead from the Front”
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Obi expressed alarm over the president’s prolonged absence, describing the situation back home as urgent and deteriorating. He urged Tinubu to return and take decisive action as the nation faces an escalating security crisis.
“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… He must immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country,” Obi stated.
📉 Over 150 Nigerians Killed in Two Weeks
Obi cited disturbing statistics, claiming that more than 150 Nigerians have been killed during the president’s time abroad. He pointed to Plateau, Zamfara, and Benue as epicentres of the violence, while also mentioning repeated pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta as signs of a country in distress.
According to him, no region is currently safe:
- In the North-East, Borno State is witnessing renewed insurgency.
- In the South-East, abductions and killings persist with rising fear and instability.
- The Niger Delta faces environmental and economic threats due to pipeline vandalism and explosions.
💬 Obi Slams Tinubu’s “Retreating CEO” Leadership
Obi didn’t mince words in criticizing Tinubu’s leadership style, calling him a “retreating CEO” of a troubled nation.
“Amid all these, the CEO of the troubling company called Nigeria is retreating in a faraway land in France from the company’s headquarters,” he said.
He argued that holding a strategic retreat abroad while citizens are being killed daily shows a disconnect from the realities on ground. Obi emphasized that the protection of citizens is the first duty of any government, and such duties cannot be outsourced or postponed.
🗣️ Call for Focused Governance and Security Reform
Obi reiterated that the push for a better Nigeria transcends personal ambitions. Instead, it must focus on governance that delivers security, stability, and tangible benefits for the average Nigerian.
“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,” Obi concluded.
