Obi says Nigeria is 'collapsing' under Tinubu, vows insecurity emergency
- Peter Obi said at an Imo State town hall that everything is collapsing under President Tinubu.
- The NDC presidential candidate promised to declare an emergency on insecurity if elected.
- Lagos APC chieftains dismissed the idea that Obi or other opposition candidates can win the state in 2027.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said on Saturday that Nigeria is collapsing under President Bola Tinubu, and that stealing public money has become normal.
Obi spoke at a town hall meeting in Imo State, according to reports by Daily Post and Naija News. The former Anambra State governor said insecurity and the looting of public funds were now everyday realities.
He accused the Tinubu administration of failing to protect lives and property, saying Nigerians now live in fear in their own country.
"Everything under President Tinubu is collapsing. We have become more terrorised, and Nigeria is now number four," Obi said. "Tinubu no longer has the energy to govern."
He said the country's biggest problem is people stealing public money, and promised it "cannot happen under my watch."
Obi also said that if given the chance, he and Rabiu Kwankwaso would unite the country and declare a state of emergency on insecurity.
Why it matters to ordinary Nigerians
Insecurity and the misuse of public funds are the issues voters raise most often, from the price of food to safety on the road. Obi's remarks set up the 2027 presidential race as a contest over who can keep Nigerians safe and spend their money honestly.
He argued the country needs a leader who will secure it and use public money for the people, not for a few individuals.
APC replies in Lagos
In Lagos, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the possibility of Obi or other opposition candidates defeating Tinubu in the state in 2027.
The party leaders spoke at a gathering organised by Dr Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the President's daughter and the Iyaloja General, according to Naija News.
Barrister Adejumbo Omofumilewa, Lagos State Director-General of the Iyaloja General Movement, described the event as a mini-rally for the President. He said the APC had fixed the problems behind its poor showing in Lagos in the 2023 presidential election and would do better in 2027.
The sources did not say how many people attended the Imo town hall or give details of Obi's policy plans beyond his promises on security and public funds.
What happens next: The presidential election is set for January 16, 2027, according to Naija News. Campaigns are expected to focus on security, the cost of living and how public money is spent.
