Peter Obi, the Labour Party‘s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, says all foreign trips by government officials should be halted until the ‘ugly situation at home’ has been addressed.
Abductions for ransom have increased since the turn of the year, particularly in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja.
Gunmen have also besieged several communities in the north of the country, torching villages, murdering people, and pillaging farm produce.
Peter Obi said in a thread on his X page on Tuesday that the increase in kidnappings and banditry across the country is a major cause for concern.
Peter Obi said:
“As terror attacks, banditry, kidnappings and violence continue to rage through the country, it is more concerning now with the surge of violence spreading through the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”
“It is now time for we the leaders, to take all forms of serious measures to tackle the situation.
“It is unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015, campaigned and won the elections on three items; Security, Economy and Corruption (SEC).
“After his Eight years in office, the situation has worsened in all three areas. The present administration, on assuming office, promised to deal decisively with the same situation — Security, Economy and Corruption.
“At the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Lagos in August 2022, the then Vice-Presidential Candidate, Sen Kashim Shettima categorically stated that if APC is elected, he as Vice President would be in charge of security, while the President as an expert in economy would handle the economy.
“Nigerians therefore now implore them to fulfil their campaign promises. Even if they do not achieve 100% results, we want to see 100% effort.”
“It is now time to stop all forms of foreign trips from people in government, until we deal with the ugly situation facing us at home,” Obi added.
“No foreign investor or partner will like to invest in Nigeria, with the situation we now find ourselves in.
“We must make sincere efforts to end the spread of violence and insecurity in our nation, in order to make any meaningful progress.”
