The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has stated that Nigeria is now at the mercy of bandits and kidnappers due to “a nearly ineffective government,” following an increase in mass abductions in the country.
He expressed his disappointment on Wednesday in a series of posts on X formerly Twitter, following the kidnapping of 150 people in Gobir Emirate, Sokoto State.
The tragedy occurred a few days after Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, the Emir of Gobir and District Head of Gatawa, was killed in the kidnappers’ den.
On July 29, the monarch, his son, and six others were kidnapped along the Sokoto-Sabon Birni Road.
In the statement, Obi expressed his shock at the unfortunate murder of the Emir of Gobir.
“Yet, even those words now feel insufficient to convey the weight of one’s feeling of tragic loss. This most recent atrocity marks the tipping point in the decline of a failing state.
“The fact that, according to widely circulated reports, the terrorists returned to the emir’s domain, abducted 150 innocent people, and stole 1,000 cattle, after his brutal murder serves as a grim indication of the continued collapse of our national security infrastructure.
“We are now at the mercy of terrorists and bandits, with a nearly ineffective government to protect us. This is not just a tragedy, but a national emergency,” Obi said.
He pointed out that Nigerians deserved decisive action, not empty talks, to address the problem, and that he campaigned for a declaration of war on insecurity, the food crisis, and poverty, but some people misinterpreted his message.
“It’s time for us to take collective responsibility. We cannot stand by as our nation deteriorates to this unacceptable level. We must revive our commitment to the safety and security of all Nigerians. Enough must now be enough,” Obi declared.