Tinubu Must Return Now, Says Peter Obi as 150 Nigerians Killed in 2 Weeks

Tinubu’s Absence Amid Killings Sparks Outrage as Peter Obi Says Over 150 Nigerians Dead

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has delivered a scathing message to President Bola Tinubu, demanding an immediate end to his foreign retreat in France and urging his return to tackle Nigeria’s rising wave of insecurity.

Obi did not mince words. He declared that more than 150 Nigerians had lost their lives to violent attacks and unrest in just two weeks—precisely the period Tinubu has been outside the country. According to him, the deaths, especially in Plateau and Zamfara states, paint a dark and disturbing picture of a nation spinning out of control, while its leader remains absent.

“Mr President, domestic problems beacons,” Obi posted bluntly on Wednesday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.

In a country already overwhelmed by insecurity, his statement hit hard: “In the two weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity across Nigeria, especially in Plateau and Zamfara States.”

His demand? Simple—come back home.

Obi stressed that Nigeria currently faces a breakdown in governance, where criminals act freely and citizens mourn almost daily. He cited fresh killings in Bassa, Plateau State, which reportedly left more than 50 people dead—barely 24 hours after he personally visited the region.

“To return from such a visit only to be confronted with another round of bloodshed is both painful and unacceptable. No nation can thrive when its citizens are slaughtered in their homes and communities without consequence,” he wrote.

The former Anambra State governor questioned the sense of detachment from the presidency, expressing disbelief that Tinubu could stay put in a peaceful foreign country while his own nation bleeds.

“Amid all these, the CEO of the troubling company called Nigeria is retreating in faraway land in France from the company’s headquarters,” Obi stated. “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.”

Obi, who is fast becoming a vocal critic of Tinubu’s leadership, described the Niger Delta’s repeated pipeline explosions and the return of insurgency in the North-East as alarming signals. He said leaders in Borno were already lamenting the return of terror groups, with both troops and civilians being killed in increasing numbers.

The situation in the South-East, he said, mirrors the same level of lawlessness, pointing to killings and abductions that have gone largely unchecked. According to Obi, these are no longer isolated incidents but signs of coordinated attacks.

“What is happening in Plateau State is no longer isolated violence. As rightly pointed out by Governor Muftwang, this has become a deliberate, systematic pattern of coordinated attacks,” he wrote. “It is imperative that the federal government urgently rises to its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property across Nigeria.”

He didn’t stop there. Obi called for justice—not the usual sympathy-laced statements or toothless promises from Abuja. He demanded the federal government deploy reinforced security operations, invest in actionable intelligence, and pursue those responsible with full force.

“The perpetrators must be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Nigerians deserve to live in peace, with dignity and without fear, in every corner of this country,” he added.

He made it clear that condolences were no longer enough. Justice must be swift and total. Anything less, he warned, would only embolden more violence.

Obi concluded his message with a personal note of grief: “My heart goes out to the bereaved families, and I pray that the souls of the departed rest in peace. May God grant the people of Plateau strength in this time of profound grief.”

His statement is seen as one of the most direct political challenges to Tinubu’s leadership since the 2023 elections. By calling out the President so publicly and pointing to specific casualties, Obi is not just speaking as an opposition leader—he’s aligning himself with the frustration of many ordinary Nigerians who are tired of the cycle of mourning and government silence.

The timing of his comments is strategic. Nigeria is inching closer to a breaking point in many regions—Plateau, Zamfara, Borno, the South-East—and leadership decisions, or the lack thereof, are coming under increasing scrutiny.

Observers say Tinubu’s absence is fast becoming a political liability, not just for optics but in terms of national stability. Critics wonder what message it sends when the President is seen in foreign lands while villages are turned into graveyards.

To many Nigerians, Peter Obi’s statement is not just opposition politics—it’s a rallying cry for leadership in a country desperate for direction.