Former Governor Peter Obi has again challenged President Bola Tinubu to discontinue his “distant governance” and urgently end the Boko Haram insurgency, especially in Borno.

“We cannot afford to continue this culture of delayed response and distant governance,” Mr Obi said in a statement on Tuesday. “The security situation in Borno state is concerning and very unsettling. What is happening in the Marte area of the state is not just a local emergency; it is a national alarm bell that must not be ignored.”

Mr Obi’s intervention came hours after Governor Babagana Zulum raised the alarm on the resurgence of terrorist attacks and lamented that Marte LGA is now almost under the terrorists’ control, pleading for support from the federal government and the Nigerian Army.

The major opposition figure said the concerns raised by the Borno governor about the worsening security situation in the state were facts, challenging Mr Tinubu not only to acknowledge them but also to act swiftly and sincerely.

“We cannot claim to be building a secure and united Nigeria when one of our own, a sitting governor, is left pleading for federal support to prevent an entire local government from falling into the hands of terrorists.

“Over 300 communities stand exposed, while more than 20,000 of our fellow Nigerians are displaced yet again. These are not just numbers, they are families, children, and communities whose hopes are hanging by a thread,” he said.

Mr Obi advocated robust reinforcements in the security forces, noting the federal government must show readiness to protect people affected by the insurgency.

The ex-Anambra governor hailed Mr Zulum for visiting the affected community, urging Mr Tinubu and other leaders to show similar compassion, competence and courage.

Meanwhile, Mr Tinubu directed an immediate and comprehensive overhaul of national security strategies in April, demanding urgent action to end the escalating violence in Borno, Benue, Plateau, and Kwara.

The president, who met with security chiefs at the State House in Abuja, said the killing of innocent people in these states must stop.