No Nation Survives on Excuses or Absentee Leadership, Says Peter Obi

In a pointed rebuke to Nigeria’s political elite, former presidential candidate Peter Obi has warned that the country is sliding into “chaos, insecurity and institutional decay.”

His scathing remarks, made on Monday, stressed that “no serious nation survives on excuses, indifference, or absentee leadership Obi’s comments, shared via his X account and widely reported across national media outlets, come amid a surge of violence and instability. In a post titled “Is Nigeria cursed, or are we the curse?”, he criticized leaders for putting their own comfort and political ambitions above the needs of the people. According to him, many in power have chosen “comfort over courage, politics over people, and power over purpose. He tied his concerns to a wave of recent security incidents, including the abduction of female farmers in Borno State and a growing number of violent attacks that have forced some states to shut down schools and declare emergency measures. Obi said this marks a country “under siege” — one that requires urgent, competent, and compassionate leadership to restore order and protect citizens. Beyond security, Obi also took aim at the government’s handling of political processes. He accused the federal authorities of fueling intra-party conflicts instead of fostering unity in response to national threats. He urged political leaders from all parties to prioritize national interests over partisan advantage Reactions to his pronouncements have been mixed. Some political commentators and opposition figures have welcomed the intervention, calling it a necessary wake-up call to Nigeria’s leadership crisis. Others, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have pushed back — urging Obi to transcend partisan politics and frame his criticisms in a more constructive way Observers say Obi’s remarks could stoke further public scrutiny of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s security strategy, especially with many Nigerians calling for more decisive action against kidnappings, banditry, and other forms of violent crime. As the next political cycle looms, analysts argue the real test for Nigeria’s leaders will be whether they change course to tackle these urgent security challenges — or remain locked in political maneuvering.