Obi: APC’s poor leadership deepened insecurity — FG, US must engage over watchlist

Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says the recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” by US President Donald Trump should give every well-meaning citizen serious concern.

In a statement on Monday, Obi said the declaration by the US, indicating possible military action, underscored the gravity of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

The former Anambra governor said the country’s situation is avoidable while lamenting the loss of lives and destruction of property across the country.

Citing Amnesty International’s report, Obi claimed that over 10,000 people have been killed since May 2023, a development he called “unacceptable and heartbreaking.”

“The senseless and unprovoked killing of Nigerians is most condemnable, and all efforts must be made to bring it to a stop,” he wrote on X.

Obi noted that Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape reflects “a failure of leadership, not fate”, insisting that with competent and committed governance, such carnage could have been prevented.

He criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government for lacking the competence and moral will to steer the country towards peace and justice.

“While the insecurity did not start with the present government, what is most unfortunate is the lack and absence of competence, commitment, prudent use of resources, patriotism, and passion on the part of the APC-led government and its leaders,” he said.

“They have failed to effectively govern, galvanise, and lead Nigeria towards a nation where no one is unwarrantedly oppressed or killed—a country where peace, truth, and justice should reign.”

The LP chieftain urged the Nigerian and US governments to approach the matter through constructive diplomacy rather than confrontation.

“As democracies, Nigeria and the US have long been strategic partners in promoting regional stability,” he said.

“That relationship should not falter. What is required now is sincere and collaborative engagement to address the root causes of insecurity.”

Obi called for urgent, coordinated action by both countries to restore peace and rebuild confidence in Nigeria’s governance system.

BACKGROUND

On Friday, Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over claims of Christian genocide in the country.

Hours later, Trump threatened that the “USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists killing Christians”.

Subsequently, Pete Hegseth, US secretary of war, said his department is preparing for possible military action if the Nigerian government fails to end the “killing of innocent Christians” in the country.

A handful of right-wing US lawmakers, led by Ted Cruz, the senator from Texas, have repeatedly claimed that Christians are facing persecution in Nigeria.

In October, Cruz proposed the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025’, legislation that seeks to hold Nigerian government officials accountable for “facilitating the mass murder of Christians”.

The proposed bill also calls for “targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials who enforce Sharia and blasphemy laws”.

Cruz introduced the bill in early September, just weeks before Trump signed a memo labelling views leaning towards anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity as domestic terrorism.