By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security and economic challenges, saying the current administration lacks the capacity to effectively address the nation’s worsening crises.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi said Nigeria requires stronger leadership to confront rising insecurity, economic hardship and governance challenges.
The former Anambra State governor argued that although the Federal Government had recorded some progress against insurgency, the country remained deeply troubled by persistent kidnappings and violent attacks.
Referring to recent security incidents, Obi said communities in parts of Zamfara and Sokoto states had been thrown into fear following mass abductions, stressing that more decisive action was needed to restore public confidence.
He maintained that if elected president, he would personally take charge of efforts to combat insecurity.
“I will be at the forefront of the fight against insecurity. Everybody will see that commitment because leadership requires direct involvement,” Obi said.
Obi also claimed that the Tinubu administration had failed to steer the country in the right direction, insisting Nigeria needed urgent reforms to reverse its current trajectory.
According to him, the President should consider stepping aside if he is unable to meet the demands of leadership.
On the 2027 general election, Obi dismissed suggestions that President Tinubu’s support from governors would automatically translate into electoral victory.
He argued that while political office holders might support the President, ordinary Nigerians grappling with hunger, inflation and insecurity would ultimately determine the outcome of the election.
“The governors may support the President, but the people are the ones who vote, and many Nigerians are facing hardship,” he said.
Obi called on the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the 2027 elections are free, fair and credible, describing credible elections as essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
The opposition leader also reiterated his long-standing claim that he won the 2023 presidential election, alleging that the outcome was manipulated. He urged Nigerian youths to remain actively engaged in demanding transparent electoral processes.
On allegations that he discriminated against northerners during his tenure as governor, Obi dismissed the claims as false, citing his appointments of northerners into key positions and his support for Muslim and Christian pilgrimages, as well as educational and humanitarian projects in northern Nigeria.
He further pledged that, if elected president, he would promote a vibrant opposition and strengthen democratic institutions rather than weaken them.
Obi said his ambition was driven not by a personal quest for power but by his desire to build a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria.
“I am contesting because I believe I can fix Nigeria, unite the country and demonstrate what is possible through effective leadership,” he said.
