The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has argued that the rise in reported violent incidents is closely tied to leadership shortcomings.
He stressed that nations do not progress when excuses, apathy, or absent leadership become the norm.
Obi made these remarks after assessing security developments across the country over the past 10 days, in a post titled “Is Nigeria cursed, or are we the curse?” shared on his X account.
According to the former Anambra State Governor, “The past 10 days in Nigeria have witnessed unprecedented negative news, a level of chaos, insecurity, and institutional decay that should trouble the conscience of all the leaders.
“Our country is now going through troubling times, not by fate, but by our collective leadership failures that allow insecurity, lawlessness, and institutional decay to thrive.
“Each day confronts us with a new tragedy and a new reminder that our beloved country is drifting amid a clear absence of competent, compassionate, responsive and responsible leadership.
“We have all watched a nation blessed with people of strength and resilience drift into avoidable disorder. We should be asking ourselves: Are we cursed, or are we the curse?”
He pointed out that the troubling period began with the abduction of six senior Ministry of Defence officials along the Kogi route.
This incident, he said, highlighted how even security personnel are now vulnerable. Shortly after, news broke about the killing of a Brigadier General by terrorists.
Compounding these tragedies was the mass kidnapping of over 400 people—among them 300 schoolchildren—during a series of attacks, pushing Nigeria into international negative spotlight.
Obi also lamented that “During the All Nigeria Judges’ Conference, judges who should embody neutrality and integrity were seen standing as the APC partisan song ‘On Your Mandate We Shall Stand’ played ahead of the President’s address.
He added that this incident deepened public mistrust in institutions expected to uphold justice.
He continued, noting that while reflecting on these issues, he received another distressing update about the abduction of 13 female farmers in Askira-Uba LGA of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters.
Obi further said, “No serious nation survives on excuses, indifference, or absentee leadership. What we are witnessing is not inevitable, it is the direct consequence of we the leaders not valuing human life.
“Nigeria is bleeding because those elected to protect the nation have chosen comfort over courage, politics over people, and power over purpose.”
He emphasized that leadership is not merely a designation but a responsibility to safeguard citizens with competence and empathy.
According to him, Nigeria deserves security, stability, and a government that prioritizes citizens’ lives above political interests.
