Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over what he described as the normalization of insecurity in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Obi highlighted the growing pattern of abductions, killings, and violent attacks across the country and questioned the government’s response to these crises.

Obi expressed his views in a post titled “The Reality of Insecurity in Today’s Nigeria” on his verified X handle on Tuesday. He drew attention to the contrast between government announcements of peace deals and ongoing security incidents in other parts of the country.

“While news headlines are still celebrating a purported peace deal in Katsina, we were again confronted with another unfortunate reality that 55 of our fellow citizens were abducted in neighbouring Zamfara state,” Obi wrote. “This contradiction speaks to a disturbing truth, that insecurity has become a normal everyday occurrence in Nigeria.”

The former presidential candidate emphasized the human impact of the violence, noting that behind every reported number are families affected and futures disrupted. “We are now in a situation where abductions, killings, and violent attacks occur almost daily. This normalization of tragedy is dangerous. Behind every number are families torn apart, dreams cut short, and futures stolen,” he said.

Obi questioned the value placed on human life in the context of persistent insecurity. “What is the value of the life of one Nigerian, when hundreds are kidnapped and killed daily without a national emergency on insecurity? If the lives of many are taken for granted, how then can the life of one Nigerian be valued?”

He further stressed that government inaction undermines citizens’ dignity and called for urgent measures to protect lives and property. “The first duty of leadership is to protect life. Until we place the highest premium on the safety of every Nigerian, we cannot claim to be building a nation,” Obi said.

He asserted that Nigerians deserve a country where peace is the standard and emphasized the possibility of change.

“We must urgently prioritize the protection of lives and property. Our people deserve a country where peace is not an option but the standard. Nigerians will not accept insecurity as their fate. A New Nigeria is possible,” he added. (The Guardian)