Tinubu yet to call Makinde 50 days after abduction of Oyo students – Obi

• Says he shouldn’t seek re-election

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, said President Bola Tinubu has failed to call Governor Seyi Makinde more than 50 days after schoolchildren were abducted in Oyo State.

Posting on his verified X handle yesterday, the former Anambra State governor condemned what he described as a display of “uncompassionate leadership,” warning that such a conduct risks turning citizens’ frustration into deep, volatile resentment.

Obi said the people of Oyo State had every reason to feel bitter and abandoned, noting that more than 50 days had passed since the schoolchildren were abducted without any tangible rescue effort by the government.

He disclosed that he had spoken publicly about the incident twice, including making a direct appeal to the kidnappers to release the children and had also called Governor Makinde twice to express solidarity, describing the abduction as not just an Oyo problem but a Nigerian tragedy.

Obi further revealed that on Friday, July 3, he travelled to Ibadan alongside Prof. Pat Utomi to show solidarity with the governor, given that over 50 days had elapsed with the children still not rescued and numerous other captives still being held across the country.

During what he described as a two-hour meeting, Obi said he shared his own experience tackling insecurity as governor of Anambra State, recalling how Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan would personally call state governors multiple times during major security crises. However, Obi said he was shocked to learn that contrary to his assumption, Governor Makinde had not received a single call from President Tinubu since the abduction.

He said: “On Friday, July 3, I decided to travel to Ibadan with Prof. Pat Utomi to express solidarity with the Governor, as more than 50 days had elapsed without the rescue of the children and with numerous others still being held captive across the country. During our two-hour meeting, I shared my experience in addressing insecurity as Governor of Anambra State. I recalled how President Olusegun Obasanjo, and later Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, would personally call us several times whenever we faced major security challenges.

“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. I remember the only case of a school kidnapping during President Goodluck Jonathan’s era – the Chibok girls. It drew local and international attention. Even though the security agencies provided almost daily updates on their efforts, Nigerians and the rest of the world were outraged that it took President Jonathan over two weeks to call the then state chief executive.

“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. 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 (over 7 weeks). This is outrageous. I suspect the same may also have been the case in other school kidnapping incidents.

“I cannot imagine any issue more important than the lives of our kidnapped children, their teachers, and the many other Nigerians being held captive across the country. It is now an indisputable fact that governance has completely collapsed under this administration. The situation reflects a total lack of capacity and compassion, compounded by glaring insensitivity. 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. A new Nigeria is possible.”