A former governor of Anambra State and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has decried the suicide bombings that rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 poll also urged President Bola Tinubu to cancel his UK state visit and visit communities ravaged by terrorists and bandits.

Mr Obi, in a statement on Tuesdday, described Nigeria as “a nation under siege,” highlighting the failure of government in its core duty of protecting lives and property.

“The nation is once again engulfed in grief and outrage following the horrific explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday. 

“These tragic events serve as a painful reminder of how far we have strayed from the fundamental duty of governance: the protection of lives and property,” Mr Obi said. 

He added, “The fact that several innocent Nigerians can be killed in multiple coordinated attacks, with over a hundred others injured in vulnerable places like markets and near hospitals, highlights a troubling reality. The silence from our nation in response to such atrocities indicates a disturbing normalisation of insecurity rather than a decisive confrontation with the issue.”

Mr Obi noted that the Maiduguri attacks and other attacks recorded in other states in recent times were a test of Nigeria’s security architecture, calling on Mr Tinubu to jettison the UK trip and attend to domestic security crisis.

“In light of recent attacks in Kwara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Sokoto, Benue, and even within the Federal Capital Territory, the pattern of insecurity is deeply concerning. In some regions, such as Katsina, there are alarming reports of communities being coerced into paying a “Peace Tax” to armed groups just to avoid further attacks and ensure their survival,” Mr Obi said. 

He said, “These moments test not only our security architecture but also the very essence of leadership. Such a grave national emergency requires immediate presence, attention, and action. It is crucial to cancel any planned trips to visit affected communities in favour of prioritizing efforts to safeguard lives.”

A spokesperson for Mr Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, dismissed Mr Obi’s position as one coming from someone who has no idea of how governance works.

“How do you expect Peter Obi to know how governance works? The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces which consists of police, SSS, and other paramilitary organisations. 

“The president is supported by vice president, ministers and other aides. That’s how nations and systems work. But since Mr Obi is a trader, buying and selling, he doesn’t believe in delegation. Everything he does he does by himself. That’s why he will not know. I dont expect him to know because he doesn’t have a clear idea of what it takes to run a country,” Mr Bwala said.

The presidential spokesperson said Mr Obi’s on Mr Tinubu to cancel his UK state visit was unnecessary, adding that security agencies had been mobilised to tackle internal security issues. 

On Monday, suicide bombers attacked Maiduguri, Borno State capital, killing 23 and injuring scores in three attacks.