Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s reported plan to recruit 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State, calling it a “reactive” fix that ignores Nigeria’s wider security crisis.
In an X post Friday titled “What Our Pervasive Insecurity Requires: A Holistic, Not Reactive Approach,” Obi said the move shows “inadequate leadership and a reactive strategy” to a problem affecting nearly all 36 states. He compared it to the abrupt fuel subsidy removal and Naira devaluation, which he said caused “significant and lasting harm” to citizens and the economy.
“While increasing security personnel is important, such measures must follow a structured, well-thought-out process,” Obi stated through his spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, in a POMR press release dated June 5, 2026.
The former Anambra governor questioned whether the Oyo model would be replicated nationwide. “If Oyo gets 1,000 guards, will this be extended uniformly to all states — totalling 37,000 guards for the 36 states and Abuja? Or are such decisions arbitrary and dependent on the President’s disposition?” he asked.
Obi flagged Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo, and Sokoto as states with “particularly alarming” insecurity. He also warned about overlap with existing regional outfits like Amotekun Corps in the South-West, which he said are already working to secure the region.
He attributed over 10,000 deaths of “innocent Nigerians since 2023” and Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s most terror-affected countries to “systemic failures, particularly in leadership.”
NCC lauds Tijani’s push as 185 girls tour telecom museum for 2026 Girls in ICT Day
*The “ecosystem” solution*
Obi argued that insecurity cannot be solved by isolated recruitment drives. “Effectively tackling insecurity necessitates a comprehensive, or ‘ecosystem,’ approach,” he said. He linked leadership failures to broader breakdowns in national unity, industrial development, and the use of Nigeria’s resources in agriculture, minerals, tourism, water, sports, oil and gas for revenue, growth, and youth jobs.
“A new, prosperous Nigeria is achievable,” Obi concluded, urging government to move from stop-gap measures to coordinated policy that addresses root causes.
