ABUJA: Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the President lacks the capacity and energy required to address Nigeria’s growing challenges, particularly insecurity and mass kidnappings.
Obi, who spoke as a presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said the country needs a leader who is physically and mentally prepared to respond to emergencies and personally demonstrate commitment to protecting citizens.
According to Obi, Nigeria cannot afford a president who is unavailable when communities face security threats and other national emergencies.
“We need him to go home because Nigeria cannot be governed by his energy. Nigeria needs a president who will be available and be there at any location in the country that has a problem,” Obi said.
He stressed that a government must demonstrate urgency in responding to kidnappings and other security challenges, arguing that leadership requires more than statements and promises.
“We cannot be in government, and 600 people will be kidnapped and taken into the bush; we will go into that bush with them, he added.
Obi’s remarks highlight the continuing debate over the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity and the demands for stronger action to protect lives and property across the country.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima has questioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ability to manage a modern economy, citing his educational background and his reported position on restoring the fuel subsidy regime.
Shettima argued that governing a contemporary economy requires specialised knowledge and an understanding of current economic realities.
Speaking at an event, the Vice President criticised Atiku’s training at the Kano School of Hygiene, claiming that it did not provide the skills required to manage a modern economy.
That’s the painful truth, Shettima said while questioning Atiku’s suitability for the presidency.
He also made remarks about Atiku’s knowledge of infectious diseases, contrasting his educational background with the expertise he believes is required for national leadership.
Even that certificate in sanitation, I know he will find it difficult to distinguish the difference between flu and COVID, that are airborne disease, and Ebola, that is human-to-human contact ailment, Shettima said.
The Vice President further accused Atiku of advocating a return to fuel subsidies for political convenience, arguing that the proposal raised important questions about economic management and the direction of Nigeria’s fiscal policies.
Defending the President’s economic policies, Shettima maintained that Tinubu took difficult decisions because he understood the circumstances facing the country.
The President took those painful decisions because he understands the dynamics,” he said.
The exchange underscores the intensifying political debate over Nigeria’s economy, insecurity and leadership as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
While Obi focused on the President’s capacity to respond to security emergencies, Shettima defended Tinubu’s economic decisions and challenged the credentials of a potential political rival.
The competing arguments reflect the broader questions confronting Nigerian voters: how to restore security, improve economic conditions and ensure that those seeking public office possess the capacity to deliver effective governance.
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