Peter Obi Urges President Tinubu to End France Retreat Amid Nigeria’s Security Crisis

In a recent statement that has sparked widespread attention, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate in Nigeria, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend his retreat in France and return to the country to tackle the escalating security challenges.

Obi’s message, shared on X by Linda Ikeji Blog, emphasizes the dire situation in Nigeria, where over 150 citizens have lost their lives to violence in just two weeks during the president’s absence. This alarming statistic, coupled with the apparent lack of governance, has fueled Obi’s urgent plea for leadership intervention.

Obi’s statement highlights several critical incidents across Nigeria that underscore the severity of the crisis.

In Plateau and Zamfara states, insecurity has claimed numerous lives, with reports of over 150 deaths in the past fortnight.

The violence isn’t limited to these regions; the Niger Delta has experienced repeated pipeline explosions, signaling a nation in distress. I

n the North East, Borno State is grappling with a resurgence of insurgency, with both troops and civilians falling victim to random attacks.

Similarly, the South East is plagued by killings and abductions, painting a grim picture of a country struggling to maintain law and order.

Obi questions the president’s decision to retreat abroad while Nigeria faces such chaos, pointing out that the CEO of a “troubling company called Nigeria” should be at the helm addressing these issues, not in a foreign land.

The backdrop to Obi’s call is a broader wave of violence that has disproportionately affected Nigeria’s Christian communities.

According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, Nigeria accounts for a staggering 3,100 of the 4,476 Christians killed globally for their faith, making it one of the most dangerous places for Christians.

A specific incident in Plateau State on Palm Sunday 2025 saw 51 Christians brutally killed, an attack some attribute to Fulani herdsmen.

This event has spotlighted the issue of religious persecution, though experts suggest the violence often stems from resource conflicts rather than purely religious motives.

Desertification in the Sahel has pushed Fulani herders southward, leading to clashes with predominantly Christian farming communities over land and water.

These tensions, exacerbated by climate change and poor governance, have created a volatile environment where violence thrives.

Obi’s statement also reflects a broader sentiment of frustration with the government’s handling of security.

He stresses that the primary responsibility of any administration is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.

With blood continuing to flow in Nigeria while the president attends a retreat in a peaceful country, Obi questions the priorities of the leadership.

He urges Tinubu to return and take responsibility, emphasizing that the fight for a better Nigeria is about ensuring every citizen can feel the impact of effective policies and decisions.

The call for a “new Nigeria” resonates with many who see the current state of affairs as unsustainable.

This situation has also drawn attention to the underreported persecution of Christians globally.

Social media posts related to the Plateau attack, including those from users like @realMaalouf

and @MahyarTousi, lament the lack of mainstream media coverage on the massacre of Christians, suggesting a broader issue of global silence on religious violence.

For Obi and many Nigerians, the immediate concern is restoring security at home, a task that demands the president’s direct attention.

As the nation grapples with these challenges, the call for leadership to prioritize domestic crises over foreign retreats grows louder.