Was Anambra Secure Under Your Watch? — Presidency Fires Back At Peter Obi
The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has responded to criticisms by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over the Federal Government’s handling of national security.
Onanuga challenged Obi’s governance record, questioning his credibility to criticise the current administration’s security management.
He also referenced a past video clip involving Obi’s successor, Willie Obiano, suggesting that supporters of the former Anambra governor were attempting to rewrite history regarding the security situation in the state during his tenure.
“Ask Peter Obi today, whether Anambra was secure under his watch, he and his Obidients would attempt a brazen revisionism. But the internet never forgets. And Obiano, Obi’s successor, is still alive,” Onanuga stated.
In the referenced footage, former Governor Willie Obiano alleged that the security architecture of the state was severely weakened when he assumed office.
“Peter Obi handed over a state with zero security to me. Over 69 people were kidnapped under him, and indigenes avoided coming home to Anambra,” Obiano was quoted as saying.
The Presidency’s response comes after a series of comments by Obi, who has criticised the Tinubu administration over its handling of the country’s worsening security situation.
Obi particularly condemned the recent mass abductions of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, and Mussa in Borno State, warning that such incidents were becoming normalised.
He noted that while about ten school abductions occurred during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year administration, the current government has recorded more than ten mass school abductions within its first three years.
Obi also faulted the Federal Government’s approval for the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State to secure the Old Oyo National Park, describing it as a reactive measure lacking a broader security framework.
He questioned whether similar approvals would be extended to other states facing security challenges, or whether the decision was taken impulsively.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
