‘Tinubu Never Called Me 50 Days After Oyo School Abduction’ — Peter Obi Reveals What Makinde Told Him

• Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has claimed that President Bola Tinubu did not contact Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde more than 50 days after the abduction of schoolchildren, describing it as a sign of worsening leadership and insecurity.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, claiming the President failed to contact Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde more than 50 days after the abduction of schoolchildren in the state.

In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, Obi described the development as evidence of a deepening leadership crisis and accused the Federal Government of showing little urgency in responding to the plight of kidnapped children.

According to Obi, he had publicly appealed twice to the kidnappers to release the children and had also spoken with Governor Makinde on two occasions to express his support.

“The government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren without any tangible effort toward their rescue, should rightly feel bitter and abandoned,” he wrote.

Obi said he later visited Ibadan alongside economist Prof. Pat Utomi, where he met with Governor Makinde to discuss the worsening security situation.

During the meeting, Obi said he was surprised to learn that the governor had not received any phone call from President Tinubu since the children were abducted.

“But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu,” Obi stated.

The former Anambra governor compared the situation to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, recalling that Tinubu was among those who strongly criticised then-President Goodluck Jonathan for delaying contact with the affected state governor.

“I vividly recall that the current president, Bola Tinubu, led a team of vocal critics who called for President Jonathan’s immediate resignation over the incident, citing his delay in calling the state governor. That call for IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION should actually be the case in this matter,” he said.

Obi further alleged that there have been more than 13 school kidnappings under the current administration and argued that the government’s response has fallen short.

“Today, under President Tinubu, there have been more than 13 school kidnappings, yet the President has found it difficult to call the affected state’s chief executive after more than 50 days… This is outrageous.”

He concluded by urging President Tinubu to either resign or refrain from seeking a second term, insisting that his appeal was driven by concern for the country’s future.

“Amid such an apparent display of incompetence, the president should either resign or, at the very least, abstain from seeking re-election for the sake of our dear country. This call is patriotic, not political,” Obi said.