Peter Obi, a former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government for allocating resources to road projects amid heightened insecurity in the country.

In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, Mr Obi questioned Mr Tinubu’s prioritisation of road projects over the security of life and property in the country.

“Are you saying that the coastal road is more important than securing Nigeria?” Mr Obi asked. “The roads we have all over the country are no more durable. You fix those roads first and use your resources to secure your country.”

Mr Obi argued that security is far more important and should be prioritised because only secure people will enjoy good roads.

“Security is far more fundamental than roads. Would you prefer a road to your village when you cannot drive to your village? If you prefer, let us do what we are doing. So if you say our problem is insecurity, they can’t go to farm, our problem is power, let’s deal with those things,” Mr Obi said.

He added, “We are a government. We must secure our people, and it requires decisive action.”

Mr Obi’s criticisms come amid a resurgence of insecurity in the country. Amnesty International, in its recent report, stated that over 10,000 people were killed under Mr Tinubu’s watch in the past two years.

To commemorate his second year in office, Mr Tinubu, in his broadcast on Thursday, acknowledged new security challenges but insisted some successes have been recorded since he assumed office two years ago.

“Amid the new security challenges, we can report some successes,” Mr Tinubu said. “In some areas of the northwest, hitherto under the control of bandits, our gallant armed forces have restored order, reducing and eliminating threats to lives and livelihoods.”

He added, “With the success achieved, farmers are back tilling the land to feed us. Highways, hitherto dangerous for travellers, have become safer. Our security agencies have succeeded many times in rescuing the abducted citizens from the hands of their tormentors.

“I promise you, we shall remain vigilant, as I told security chiefs during the last meeting to up their game and collaborate to end this plague of evil men. Every Nigerian deserves to live without fear.”