Former Labour Party presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly criticized Nigeria's political leadership for what he describes as a dangerous obsession with preparations for the 2027 general elections, while the nation grapples with unrelenting insecurity that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless citizens.
In recent statements widely reported across national media, Mr. Obi expressed profound dismay at the disconnect between the priorities of the ruling class and the urgent realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
He highlighted alarming statistics from the early months of 2026, noting that over 1,000 Nigerians have reportedly been killed and several thousand abducted amid ongoing terrorist attacks, banditry, and communal violence in states including Plateau, Borno, and others.
"It is profoundly disturbing that while we, the politicians, continue to obsess over the 2027 elections spending our energy scheming about how to capture, grab, and run the next election the first two months of 2026 have reportedly seen the killing of over 1,000 Nigerians and the abduction of several thousand others," Mr. Obi stated.
He further lamented the national discourse, pointing out that political conversations remain fixated on power-sharing formulas, party structures, zoning arrangements, and campaign strategies, even as families across the country bury their loved ones.
Recounting his emotional response to reports of attacks, such as those in communities like Doruwa Babuje in Plateau State and Ngoshe in Borno State, Mr. Obi emphasized that leaders appear indifferent to the daily slaughter, abductions, and displacement plaguing the populace.
"We debate power sharing while citizens are sharing funeral programs," he said. "We strategise about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026. This is inhumane."
Mr. Obi accused the political elite of being "devastatingly more preoccupied with how to snatch, grab, and run away with the next election," rather than addressing the root causes of insecurity and prioritizing the protection of lives and property.
He stressed that true leadership demands placing human security and citizens' welfare above electoral ambitions, warning that history will judge leaders not by their political maneuvers but by their commitment to safeguarding the nation during times of crisis.
"Nigerians deserve leadership that prioritizes safety, dignity, and development over selfish political calculations," Mr. Obi asserted. "The time has come for all political actors to redirect their focus from electioneering to the urgent task of dismantling terrorist networks, restoring peace, and ensuring no Nigerian lives in fear."
Mr. Obi called on the government, security agencies, and all stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action to reverse the tide of violence, urging a collective return to the core duty of governance: protecting the lives of the people.