Nigeria: Oyo Abduction - 'Makinde Told Me He Never Called,' Peter Obi Restates Call for Tinubu's Resignation

Lead

Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has reiterated his call for President Bola Tinubu to either resign or abstain from seeking re-election, citing the president's handling of insecurity, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. The Presidency has dismissed the call as misplaced and based on a selective interpretation of developments since 2023.

Coverage Comparison

AllAfrica reported two distinct perspectives on this development. One account highlights Obi's critical statements, in which he expressed shock that about 13 school abductions have occurred under President Tinubu's administration and claimed the president has not contacted governors of affected states. The other account focuses on the Presidency's response, defending the administration's record on security and the economy while dismissing Obi's call as anti-democratic.

Key Claims

Obi's Allegations

In a post on his verified X handle on Monday, Obi claimed that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State told him that President Tinubu did not contact him more than 50 days after the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the state. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said he visited Governor Makinde in the company of Nigerian political economist Pat Utomi on Friday, during which he learned from the governor that the president had not expressed sympathy over the abduction.

Obi stated that the government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction, "should rightly feel bitter and abandoned" due to the lack of tangible effort toward rescue. He described the president's failure as demonstrating "incapacity and a lack of compassion." He said, "Amid such an apparent display of incompetence, the President should either resign or, at the very least, abstain from seeking re-election for the sake of our dear country. This call is patriotic, not political."

Obi also recalled that former Nigerian presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, typically called several times when similar attacks occurred during their administrations. He cited the Chibok girls' kidnapping during President Jonathan's era as an example.

Presidency's Response

The Presidency, through presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, issued a statement on Monday in Abuja dismissing Obi's call as misplaced. Onanuga said Obi's position failed to reflect the country's constitutional and political realities, noting that Nigeria operates a presidential system, unlike the parliamentary system in the United Kingdom, making calls for resignation outside constitutional processes inappropriate.

Onanuga stated that President Tinubu was elected for a fixed four-year term and should be assessed by voters during the next presidential election rather than through social media campaigns. He pointed to recent electoral victories by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti and senatorial elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo, and Rivers states as evidence of continued public support.

"Obi should wait until the presidential election to know what the people think of Tinubu's government," Onanuga said, adding, "Moving to use X to harangue the President out of office is off the mark and anti-democratic."

On security, Onanuga said Tinubu inherited longstanding challenges but has recorded measurable progress through intensified military operations and increased investments in national security infrastructure. He claimed hundreds of kidnapped victims have been rescued and more than 15,000 terrorists neutralised through sustained operations. He also cited the deployment of advanced technologies, drones, and the appointment of a Special Adviser on Homeland Security as part of expanded security investments.

On the economy, Onanuga said the administration has recorded positive GDP growth every quarter since 2023, with oil production rising and federation revenue projected to exceed N30 trillion in 2026.

Perspectives

Peter Obi (NDC Presidential Candidate)

Obi argues that President Tinubu's failure to contact governors of affected states and to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren demonstrates incompetence and lack of compassion. He believes the president should resign or abstain from seeking re-election, framing his call as patriotic.

The Presidency (via Bayo Onanuga)

The Presidency contends that Obi's call is misplaced and ignores constitutional processes. It maintains that Tinubu was elected for a fixed term and should be judged at the polls. The administration asserts progress on security and economic metrics, citing specific achievements to counter Obi's criticism.