The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has lamented over the killings across the country, saying that politicians strategise on how to win in 2027 general elections while Nigerians are struggling to survive in 2026.
The former Governor of Anambra State, who spoke via his X, formerly Twitter handle on Sunday, stressed that the scale of bloodshed and the number of deaths in just two months in Nigeria are worse than what happens in countries officially at war, pointing out that politicians are rather preoccupied with issues about how to be politically relevant.
Obi said, “It’s profoundly disturbing that while we, the politicians, continue to obsess over the 2027 elections—spending our energy scheming about how to capture, grab, and run the next election—the first two months of 2026 have reportedly seen the killing of over 1,000 Nigerians and the abduction of several thousand others.
“This is the painful reality confronting our nation. From Zamfara State to Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, and many other states, families have buried loved ones, and communities have been emptied by gunshots and fear.
“In over 25 states across all geopolitical zones this year alone, there have been major violent attacks on innocent citizens, kidnappings by armed bandits, mass shootings, village invasions, and brazen assaults on worshippers and travelers. The scale of bloodshed and the number of deaths in just two months in Nigeria are even worse than what we see in countries officially at war. Yet the urgency with which we discuss these tragedies does not match the urgency of our discussions surrounding zoning formulas, party structures, and campaign strategies.”
Speaking further, he said, “We debate power sharing while citizens are sharing funeral programmes. I watched in tears yesterday as families in the Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State buried their dead after attacks by armed terrorists, but our media and leaders were focused on discussions about party issues and the 2027 elections, when we aren’t even sure we’ll be alive to see it, given all the deaths happening in our country today. We strategise about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026. This is inhumane.
“We must elevate human life to a sacred status in our national priorities. Leadership is not about winning elections; it’s about saving lives. We can, and we must, aspire to a Nigeria devoid of bloodshed—a Nigeria where governance is measured not by political dominance but by the safety and dignity of its people.
“History won’t remember how many strategies we perfected for 2027; it’ll remember whether we acted when Nigerians were dying. We must choose Nigerian lives over politics. We must put Nigerians first.” Obi added.
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