The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the recruitment of approximately 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State, describing the move as another example of reactive governance and poor leadership in addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Obi made his position known in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday under the title, “What Our Pervasive Insecurity Requires: A Holistic, Not Reactive Approach.” In the statement, the former Governor of Anambra State argued that the Federal Government’s decision reflects a pattern of responding to national crises without a clear long-term strategy or comprehensive policy framework.
His comments come in the wake of recent kidnappings and attacks in Oyo State, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that has heightened concerns about the deteriorating security situation across the country.
According to Obi, while the intention behind recruiting additional security personnel may appear commendable, the approach raises fundamental questions about planning, consistency, and sustainability.
“In a hasty effort to be perceived as attentive and courageous, it is reported that President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State. This is a further demonstration of poor leadership and attending to very serious governance and security issues with a reactive approach,” Obi stated.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate argued that governance should be driven by carefully thought-out policies rather than emergency responses designed to address immediate public pressure. He maintained that security challenges of the magnitude currently confronting Nigeria require coordinated national strategies rather than isolated interventions.
Obi further drew parallels between the latest security initiative and what he described as the Federal Government’s handling of major economic reforms. According to him, the administration’s decisions regarding the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira were similarly implemented without adequate preparation, resulting in severe economic consequences for ordinary Nigerians.
He said the impact of those policies continues to be felt across the country, with many citizens struggling under rising inflation, high transportation costs, declining purchasing power, and increased poverty levels.
According to Obi, the same pattern of decision-making is now evident in the security sector.
While acknowledging that Oyo State faces significant security threats and deserves intervention, Obi questioned whether the Federal Government intends to extend similar measures to other states facing comparable or even more severe security crises.
He pointed out that insecurity has become a nationwide phenomenon affecting virtually every part of Nigeria.
“Presently, almost all the 36 states in Nigeria are experiencing different forms of insecurity, with Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo, and Sokoto being very alarming,” he said.
The NDC presidential candidate noted that communities across the country continue to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, communal violence, and insurgency, raising questions about the fairness and effectiveness of approving a special security arrangement for only one state.
Obi therefore challenged the Federal Government to explain the criteria used in approving the recruitment of forest guards for Oyo State.
“The question, such as the reactive approach of our President, is whether all the states will receive the same approval to recruit 1,000 forest guards per state, that is 37,000 forest guards for the 36 states and Abuja, or is the recruitment approval based on the mood of the President?” he asked.
According to him, national security policies should be guided by established frameworks rather than discretionary decisions that could create perceptions of inequality among states.
He also raised concerns about the relationship between the proposed forest guards and existing regional security initiatives, particularly the South-West Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun.
Obi questioned whether the new recruits would operate independently of Amotekun or whether the development could undermine the effectiveness of the regional security outfit.
“Moreover, with the approval for Oyo, what will happen to the Amotekun Corps that is trying its best to secure South-West Nigeria? Will they be disbanded in Oyo State?” he asked.
The former governor stressed that security architecture must be coordinated and clearly defined to avoid duplication of responsibilities and operational confusion.
Beyond the immediate issue of forest guards, Obi argued that Nigeria’s security crisis is fundamentally a symptom of broader governance failures.
According to him, insecurity cannot be separated from issues such as unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, weak institutions, poor education, and the inability of government to create economic opportunities for millions of young people.
He lamented that Nigeria continues to rank among the countries most affected by terrorism globally despite its vast human and natural resources.
Obi noted that thousands of Nigerians have reportedly lost their lives to various forms of violence since 2023, while countless others have been displaced from their homes and deprived of their livelihoods.
He argued that addressing insecurity requires more than deploying additional personnel or launching isolated security operations.
Instead, he advocated what he described as a holistic or ecosystem approach to national security.
“Addressing our insecurity situation requires a holistic or what can be described as an ecosystem approach,” he stated.
According to Obi, effective security management must begin with competent leadership capable of uniting the country and inspiring confidence among citizens.
He maintained that leadership failures have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s current challenges.
“With failure in leadership, there is failure in unifying our dear nation, failure in industrialisation, failure in harnessing our abundant resources in agriculture, minerals, tourism, water, sports and even oil and gas to effectively generate required revenue, growth and particularly jobs for our exponentially growing youth population,” he said.
The former governor argued that millions of unemployed young Nigerians remain vulnerable to recruitment by criminal networks because government has failed to create sustainable economic opportunities.
He stressed that long-term peace and stability can only be achieved when citizens have access to education, jobs, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
Obi reiterated his belief that security and development are inseparable, noting that countries that successfully reduced insecurity invested heavily in human capital development, economic growth, and institutional reforms alongside conventional security measures.
He called on the Federal Government to adopt a more strategic approach that addresses both the immediate security threats and the underlying socio-economic factors driving criminality.
The NDC presidential candidate concluded by urging Nigerian leaders to embrace proactive governance, warning that piecemeal responses and short-term interventions would not solve the country’s deep-rooted security challenges.
According to him, only a comprehensive national strategy anchored on effective leadership, economic transformation, youth empowerment, and institutional strengthening can deliver lasting peace and security for Nigerians.
As debates continue over the recruitment of forest guards and other security initiatives, Obi’s remarks have added a fresh dimension to the national conversation on how best to tackle one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
