Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has declared Nigeria a disgraced country under President Bola Tinubu, citing worsening insecurity and internal wrangling in several opposition parties.

Mr Obi expressed deep concern over the country’s escalating security challenges, referencing the attack on a girls’ school in Kebbi, the killing of a senior military officer, and the kidnapping and murder of Christians in Kwara.

He explained that the incidents reinforce growing fears about the government’s inability to protect citizens or uphold democratic norms.

“A few weeks ago, when President Trump described our country as ‘now disgraced’, many were outraged. Yet, how can we dispute it when, within a single week, 25 people were kidnapped, and one of our generals, along with other officers, was killed?

“Today, we witness another troubling terror attack in Kwara state. Rather than uniting in this critical moment, we are consumed by internal wrangling, party squabbles, and distractions,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the former Anambra governor, despite the tragedies, the nation is distracted by political infighting rather than uniting to confront its challenges.

Mr Obi alleged that, instead of strengthening democracy, Mr Tinubu’s administration was fuelling internal crises across major opposition parties, including the PDP, Labour Party, and SDP.

“I am reminded of a pivotal moment under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. During an internal crisis in my then-political party, he instructed the INEC chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, that the stability of every political party—not just the ruling party—was essential for democracy. No party was to be undermined; all were to function within the law.

“What we witness today is the opposite. The current government seems more intent on weakening parties than strengthening our democracy—seeking to fragment the PDP, Labour Party, SDP, and others.

“In democratic nations, opposition is respected, elections reflect the will of the people, and governance involves carrying everyone along for peace and prosperity,” he said.